Have a personal or library account? Click to login
The Moon as an International Competition in the 21st Century. A Political Science Perspective Cover

The Moon as an International Competition in the 21st Century. A Political Science Perspective

By: Dorota Maj and  Agnieszka Zaręba  
Open Access
|Dec 2025

Abstract

This research article analyses the contemporary Moon race in the changing international environment, technological development and economic conditions. The following theses were verified in the research: (1) The Moon is the subject of competition between states, non-state and transnational entities; (2) the actions of the entities in the Moon race are influenced by the deterioration of international relations, including the worsening of US-Chinese relations and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; (3) the logic of the Moon race is influenced by the involvement of non-state actors, in particular private companies and start-ups. The theses formulated were confirmed during the course of the research. The Moon race has two main consequences: the formation of strategic alliances for the realisation of milestones in lunar exploration and the driving of a new space race and competition between states. It also serves to demonstrate space power and to build international prestige. The logic of the Moon race is changing with the entry of entrepreneurs and start-ups, mainly by pushing its commercial dimension.

Language: English
Page range: 1 - 15
Submitted on: Mar 13, 2025
|
Accepted on: Aug 26, 2025
|
Published on: Dec 18, 2025
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 2 issues per year

© 2025 Dorota Maj, Agnieszka Zaręba, published by University of Wroclaw, Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.