M. J. Peterson is Professor of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and is the author of Recognition of Governments: Legal Doctrine and State Practice, 1815–1995.

"International Regimes for the Final Frontier goes a long way in encouraging the progressive development of international law in the new field of space law, not only because of the nature of the major topics involved in this ever-growing discipline but also because of the clarity with which the different chapters are addressed … Two of the most striking features of [Peterson's] book are that it is useful to both academics and practitioners and that, although published in 2005, it remains quite relevant." — American Journal of International Law"This book is a rare find: a work that simultaneously makes contributions to the scholarly understanding of the politics of outer space and to political science. It has the signal virtue of being based on extensive archival research. The empirical material vastly surpasses the scattered and largely speculative literature on the actual negotiations on outer space regime formation." — Daniel H. Deudney, Johns Hopkins University

• Preface Affiliations of Authors Involved in Space Negotiations 1. Creating Regimes for "The Final Frontier" Actors, Social Structures, and InteractionSituation Definitions and InteractionThe Patterns of Space Activity, 1957–1988Plan of the Study 2. The Institutional Context of Negotiations Fundamental Institutions of the States SystemThe UN ForumsParticipants in the NegotiationsImplications of the Two Levels of Institutions 3. The Locational Classification of Outer Space Classifying Outer Space as a LocationReasoning by AnalogySelecting the Initial Analogy for Classifying Outer SpaceMoving to Multiple AnalogiesDelimiting the Outer Space CommonsExplaining Preference Formation, Preference Aggregation, and Negotiation Outcomes 4. Aspects of Spaceflight Appreciating the Registration and Rescue ProblemsThe Soviet Initiative on Rescue of Space CrewsThe French Initiative on RegistrationExplaining Preference Formation, Preference Aggregation, and Negotiation Outcomes 5. Liability for Damage on Earth Appreciating the SituationSetting the Broad Parameters and Resolving the Uncontentious QuestionsResolving the Acute DisagreementsExplaining Preference Formation, Preference Aggregation, and Negotiation Outcomes 6. Military Activity in Outer Space Appreciating the SituationFrom "Outer Space" to "Space" and "Celestial Bodies"Confirming the Separation and the Different RulesExplaining Preference Formation, Preference Aggregation, and Negotiation Outcomes 7. Exploring and Using the Moon Appreciating the SituationProviding ReassuranceContending over Resource ManagementExplaining Preference Formation, Preference Aggregation, and Negotiation Outcomes 8. The Orbit-Spectrum Resource Appreciating the SituationBringing Space Uses into the Radio RegimeThe Third World Drive for Comprehensive PlanningElaborating the Mixed Access RuleExplaining Preference Formation, Preference Aggregation, and Negotiation Outcomes 9. Situation Definitions in the Outer Space Negotiations Establishing Situation DefinitionsThe Impact of Situation Definitions on Preference FormationThe Impact of Situation Definitions on Preference AggregationThe Impact of Situation Definitions on Negotiation OutcomesSituation Definitions and Explanations of Actor ConductThe Future of the Space Treaties NotesBibliographyList of Titles, SUNY series in Global PoliticsIndex