Research Notes 1

I'm beginning to work on my research topic, which is about the political structure and evolution of sociopolitical systems in open space.  On the one hand, I could write this as a straight-up research paper, with citations to support my theory and historical precedent to back it up.  On the other hand, I could just write it as a novel, which would give me more leeway in expressing myself and possibly make the process much more interesting both for me and the reader.

Of course, if I do that, I might just be re-writing The Expanse, which seems to cover that ground to some extent.

Basically, the theory, as it extends to orbital and deep-space platforms, posits that availability of resources is the major driving factor in the potential development of self-governance structures in space stations, and that certain inherent limitations on set resources (oxygen, for example) will limit or otherwise curtail the development of what we consider to be inalienable rights.

I see a station going through several stages of development, each one dependent on a few factors. For example, the International Space Station will most likely never be an independent political authority. It is simply too small to have any sort of independent existence, and is completely reliant on the supporting agencies of the controlling nation-states for sustenance resources.

So it appears that what I should do to start with is posit a fictional station, most likely located at a LaGrange point, that has been self-sufficient for some time and is now beginning to take its first tentative steps towards political autonomy.  That seems like a valid framework in which to explain the concepts of the research.

I need to explain the stages of sociopolitical development on a space station, and the factors that both inhibit and enhance development.  Many of these factors will be similar to development factors found on Earth; others will not.  Also of note is the difference between military outposts, scientific outposts supported by Earth nation-states, and corporate development and resource exploitation stations, and how these different management styles can result in differing political systems.

Maybe three stations, then, with three different economies.