Aaron Bateman

Fiona Cunningham, a Political Science expert at the University of Pennsylvania, and Aaron Bateman, a historian at George Washington University, dive into the evolution of strategic deterrence. They unravel the concept of 'strategic substitution' and discuss China's innovative approach to deterrence. The conversation highlights the U.S.'s 'Golden Dome' missile defense system, and whether Australia should boost its capabilities in response to China's military modernization. Their insights explore the intersection of technology, national security, and historical crises.

Satellites have held a special place in military planning and in spy fiction alike for more than half a century. Both domains ended up devoting much attention to satellite-based weapons and anti-satellite weaponry; both have also dealt with the problem of space debris related to the latter.In this chat, David Priess and George Washington University historian Aaron Bateman talk about Bateman's early interest in satellites, early satellite technology and attempts at anti-satellite activity, the Outer Space Treaty and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, actions by presidents from Eisenhower through Biden related to the testing of satellite and/or anti-satellite weapons, the Strategic Defense Initiative (commonly called the "Star Wars program"), the problem of space debris, the Kessler Syndrome, other countries' satellite and anti-satellite activities, the Space Force, and on-screen portrayals of satellite warfare and space debris from the James Bond movies to Gravity.Chatter is a production of Lawfare and Goat Rodeo. This episode was produced by Cara Shillenn of Goat Rodeo. Podcast theme by David Priess, featuring music created using Groovepad.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aaron Bateman, Assistant Professor at George Washington University, delves into the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), sparked by Reagan’s 1983 announcement. He discusses how SDI reshaped space militarization post-Cold War, revealing its secretive role in US defense strategy. Bateman argues that SDI’s controversy stemmed more from its political implications than technical challenges. He also connects SDI's legacy to today's space arms control issues and reflects on current projects, including insights gained from archival research.