BRICS and Astropolitics: Governance Challenges in a Multipolar Space Order

Abstract

This study explores the convergence between astropolitics, smart governance, and technological sovereignty within the BRICS framework, analyzing the impacts of these interactions on international relations and urban management. The research examines how BRICS countries integrate advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and big data, to enhance the interoperability of geoinformation systems and environmental monitoring, offering innovative solutions to emerging challenges in outer space. Through a comparative analysis of the bloc's heterogeneous public policies, the potential of the Glonass and Beidou systems as central axes of spatial articulation within the BRICS is identified. The discussion also addresses how these initiatives influence space security, sustainability, and the formulation of global space governance norms. The conclusion argues that the creation of a smart space governance body by the BRICS could solidify the bloc's position as a strategic actor in global astropolitics, fostering a multilateral and inclusive approach that offers an alternative to the traditional dominance of Western powers.