An academic discussion organised by MEI’s Political Economy Research Cluster.

Abstract 

Middle Eastern astronomical discoveries and cosmopolitanism are commonly and romantically considered features of past eras. In contrast to these views, Determann argues that Arabs have contributed to space exploration and cosmopolitan identities to the present day. Using cutting-edge telescopes and engaging in international collaborations, astronomers from Algeria to Qatar have made important discoveries and named new celestial bodies. Looking at Earth from American and Soviet spacecraft, a Saudi astronaut and a Syrian cosmonaut also began to see our planet without national boundaries. However, rather than being hampered by nationalism, transnational collaborations in the fields of space science partly depended on funding by national governments in search of development, prestige and security.