The Institutions of Extraterrestrial Liberty

The exploration of space raises new problems in the expression of human freedoms. While the potential to establish new extraterrestrial settlements is thrilling, it also brings along a myriad of decisions to consider when addressing how these settlements should operate in a way which maintains human liberties.
In this book, many dimensions of freedom in space are discussed. Aspects of liberty beyond Earth, from the near term: freedom to claim satellite orbits, to the very long-term: freedom on interstellar worldships, are considered. Gathering a diverse set of expertise from scientists, ethicists, lawyers, philosophers and social scientists, they seek to collectively answer questions such as: How should early governance structures be assembled? What are the ideal forms of institutions, from science academies to schools and governments? What freedoms can people expect in space and how will governance beyond Earth tread the fine line between authority and liberty?
A compelling analysis of liberties on Earth, the solar system, and beyond - this text is bound to inspire the interests of academics and scientists alike.

Charles S. Cockell is Professor of Astrobiology at the University of Edinburgh, UK. His scientific research includes the study of life in extreme environments, the habitability of extraterrestrial environments, and human space exploration. He has worked for NASA and the British Antarctic Survey and spent many seasons in Antarctica and the High Arctic. He received his doctorate in molecular biophysics from the University of Oxford and his BSc from the University of Bristol. As well as over 300 scientific papers and numerous popular science books, including Space on Earth, which made the case for the indivisible links between space exploration and environmentalism, he has written a number of papers and edited books on the subject of extraterrestrial liberty.

- Introduction - 1: Zarinah Agnew : Are we ready for new liberties? Stewarding mutually assured autonomy through place-based experiments - 2: Stephen Baxter : The voyage of 600 years: The ethical governance of a worldship - 3: Annalea Beattie : Art, institutions, and liberty in extraterrestrial communities - 4: Mukesh Chiman Bhatt : Space for opportunity: Transcultural and transnational sources of extraterrestrial liberty - 5: Octavio Alfonso Chon Torres : Expansion of humanity in space: Utopia or dystopia? - 6: Elena Cirkovic : The cosmolegal approach to human activities in outer space - 7: Charles S. Cockell : Essay on the Scottish Islands, their lessons for extraterrestrial governance, and a sketch of the applications of this knowledge to settlements beyond Earth - 8: Raphaël Costa : The law of Mars' colonization - 9: Ian A. Crawford : Brightening the skies: Institutional solutions to the societal and geopolitical risks of space expansionism - 10: Janet de Vigne : Human conflict resolution in a non-Terran context - 11: Martin Elvis : Scarcity in space: Challenges for liberty - 12: Simon Malpas : 'We have come to Mars for good': Science fiction, sovereignty, and the challenges of liberty - 13: Allan McKenna : Securing the long-term peaceful use of space 187 - 14: Tony Milligan : Indigenous inclusion within the democratization of space - 15: Lucas John Mix : Decoupling physical and spiritual ascent narratives in astronomy and biology - 16: Ethan Morales : The law of Mars: The problem of violence mitigation in the development of extraterrestrial political institutions - 17: Simon J. Morden : Anarchy and authority: Summary justice on long-term space missions - 18: Thomas Moynihan : Making history cosmic, making cosmic history: Waking up to the richness of life's potentials beyond Earth, or, how consequence and contingency became astronomical in scope - 19: Christopher J. Newman and William Ralston : Only a paper moon: The Artemis Accords and future human settlements - 20: Anthony Pagden : Enlightenment beyond Earth - 21: Stefania Paladini and Ignazio Castellucci : Sovereign states, private actors, and (national) space laws. A rapidly evolving landscape - 22: Burkhard Schafer : In space, nobody can copyright your scream - 23: James S.J. Schwartz : Justice in space: Demanding political philosophy for demanding environments - 24: Michael Shermer : Extraterrestrial governance: Why the constitutions of planets should be grounded in the constitution of their inhabitants - 25: Saskia Vermeylen : Global legal pluralism and outer space law: The Association of Autonomous Astronauts as a socio-legal community - 26: Matjaz Vidmar : On libertarian communities in/around outer space: Is ecology an antithesis to liberty? - 27: Frans G. von der Dunk : Law and liberty on the Moon - 28: Sheri Wells-Jensen : Welcoming disability as necessary in space travel - 29: Joanne Wheeler : Regulation - a restraint of liberty or an enabler? Implementing sustainability guidelines for commercial space activities- normalizing the regulatory 'race to the top' in an ESG world - 30: Robert Zubrin: The case for space is liberty