The Intelligence from The Economist
The Intelligence: Out-of-this-world war
Feb 16, 2024
Anton LaGuardia, The Economist's diplomatic editor, discusses the rise of space as a new battlefield, emphasizing the military's dependence on satellites and the risks of miscalculations. Joan Hoey, editorial director of the Democracy Index, analyzes global democratic trends, noting a slight uptick in democratic nations even amid rising authoritarianism. Anne Rowe pays tribute to Jack Jennings, a WWII veteran, sharing his inspiring story of resilience and hope through music amid adversity.
27:19
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Quick takeaways
- Space is increasingly becoming a military domain with the development of weapons to target satellites.
- The decline in democracy is most prominent in hybrid and authoritarian regimes, with regions like Latin America and the Middle East experiencing the largest declines.
Deep dives
The Increasing Militarization of Space
Space is not just a peaceful domain, but also a military one. Satellites play a crucial role in modern warfare, providing time signals, precision information, and persistent eyes in the sky. The Chief of Space Operations, General Charles Saltzman, highlights the significance of space capabilities and the growing integration of space into the joint team. Space warfare is still in its early stages with satellites being defenseless and easy to spot. Various weapons like direct ascent anti-satellite missiles, lasers, microwaves, and rendezvous and proximity operations have been developed to target satellites.
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