ASLI Book Café with Dr. Samuel Oyewole
A conversation with Dr. Samuel Oyewole on his book titled "Utilitarianism in Outer Space: Space Policy, Socioeconomic Development and Security Strategies in Nigeria and South Africa."
Dr Samuel Oyewole is a Research Fellow at the African Center for the Study of the United States ACSUS-UP) and Ocean Regions Programme of the Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa. He is the author of “Utilitarianism in Outer Space: Space Policy, Socioeconomic Development and Security Strategies in Nigeria and South Africa.” (Springer, 2024)
Overview of the book
This book showcases Nigerian and South African experiences on space politics, policy and strategy, vis-à-vis their development and security aspirations, while contributing to the broader African and the Global-South perspectives on the subject. Space policy in developing countries such as Nigeria and South Africa is motivated by utilitarian promises that space and the attendant technologies have the potential to advance development and security interests of the affected nations. However, several decades into the orbital journey of these countries, little is known of their space politics, policies, strategies, capacities and capabilities, and realisation of desired objectives. Beyond pure and applied sciences reductionism, this book offers social science perspectives on space studies in Africa, as it examines the intricate relationships of historical, geographical, social, demographic, economic, political, administrative, and strategic factors, nationally, regionally and globally, that have shaped research and development of space science and technologies, and their benefits, in Nigeria and South Africa.
About the author
Dr Samuel Oyewole is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the African Centre for the Study of the United States (ACSUS) and Ocean Regions Programme of the Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa. He is also a Lecturer at the Department of Political Science, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria.
His research interests cover African affairs, aerospace, defense and strategic studies, crisis management, ocean governance, development, studies, and International Relations.
His articles have appeared in many journals, including Astropolitics, Australian Journal of Maritime and Ocean Affairs, African Security, African Security Review, African Conflict and Peacebuilding Review, Defense & Security Analysis, Defence Studies, Democracy and Security, Geojournal, Journal of Asian and African Studies, New Zealand International Review, Politikon, RUSI journal, South African Journal of International Affairs, Strategic Analysis, and Studies in Conflict & Terrorism.
He is the author of Utilitarianism in Outer Space: Space Policy, Socioeconomic Development and Security Strategies in Nigeria and South Africa (Springer, 2024). He is also co-editor of Power Politics in Africa: Nigeria and South Africa in Comparative Perspective (Cambridge Scholar, 2020); Boko Haram’s Campaign of Terror in Nigeria: Context, Dimensions and Emerging Trajectories (Routledge, 2021); Armed Banditry in Nigeria: Evolution, Dynamics and Trajectories (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024); The Political Economy of Kidnapping and Insecurity in Nigeria (Springer, 2024).