The European Space Agency (ESA) is an Intergovernmental Organization that is based in Europe. The main reason for creating this organization is to "shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world" (ESA.INT 2010, 1). ESA has 18 member states. In Rourke-Bouyer 2010, it talks about how the members of IGO's are made up of countries as the members. The main mission of the organization is to draw the plans for the future of the European space program and make sure that it carries out the mission. Although it is the European Space Agency, there are other many countries that are involved to develop technology and advancements in space. Countries such as Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom are involved in the acts of ESA. The headquarters are located in Paris and there are around 2000 staff working for ESA, from all the Member States and include scientists, engineers, information technology specialists and administrative personnel. In the Interaction Policy Brief it explains the expansion of IGO's and the effects the military has based on decision making. When speaking about the ESA, it is a type of organization which fits into this learning objective. The military is important because it should be used only to ensure the effectiveness in meeting security objectives. When working on space projects and involvment with satellites, the military is always involved. This is especially when so many different countries are involed. The military then ensure the "three pillars" of security. These are development, diplomacy, and defense. In January of 2003 - European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin introduced the 'Green Paper on European Space Policy'. The Green Paper investigates Europe's assets and weakness in the space sector. This is done in order to form a debate on Europe's policy with all players including national and international organisations, the European space industry and its users, and Europe’s scientific community and citizens. The objective is to "increase awareness of the strategic importance of space and space policy for Europeans, to define areas of consensus and to find concrete answers to questions concerning access, funding and institutional arrangements" (ISA.INT 2010, 3).
In 2010 alone, ESA has accomplish a number of projects such as making the sun available online for everybody, wind and water research on Mars, and close flybys of moon photos. Another key accomplishment will occur on the 14 of February, 2011. The Mars500 is a simulator which will last 520 days, the same amount of time to get to Mars and back. The Moscow Institue for Biomedical Problems has created the simulation to almost exact circumstances as there would be on Mars. This gives us more incite into further expansion of life on Mars.
Through IGO's, countries are able to "achieve goals that they cannot accomplish alone” (Rourke-Bouyer 2010, 172). Through IGO's, they are able to increase international contact, increase global interdependence, and expand transnational problems. ESA is able to accomplish missions by the help of other countries involvments. With these involvements they are able to move forward in the expansion of research in space. Hopefully in the future the ESA will be able to uncover mysteries and technology throughout space. In the future there is no telling on the capabilities of space and humans interraction with it. European Space Agency, 2010, Article II, Purpose, Convention of establishment of a European Space Agency, 2003) http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/About_ESA/index.html Rourke, John T, and Mark A Boyer. 2010. International Politics on the World Stage, BRIEF, 8th Edition. New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies.
United States Institution of Peace. November 2008. The U.S. Military's Expanding Role in Foreign Assistance. http://www.interaction.org/sites/default/files/1/POLICY%20REPORTS/FOREIGN%20ASSISTANCE%20BRIEFING%20BOOK/Sec14_InterAction_Foreign_Assistance_Briefing_Book.pdf

That was an interesting article. I had not heard of the Treaty until reading this but after reading I do have questions. If this Treaty is specifically aimed at main powers such as The United States and Russia, do you think serious other problems will occur because of this? When dealing with other nations who are powerful, it is hard for everyone to become on the same page and everything work out so well. Very interesting article and I wonder how that will turn out.
Like many times before, I do not believe it is possible to put a time line onto something such as this. The same thing happened with Iraq, and that lasted a lot longer than any one could have imagined. This is simply the same type of situation. As far as how much money is spent, troops, and a time-line I do not believe anyone truly knows, which concludes that the definition of success is in the opinion of each person.
I agree with David completely. I am not an expert and this is honestly some of the first time I have ever tried to pursue this question. The thing I think about is the same as David said. Even if all of these facts are actually true, it will take way too long of a time for people and other countries to come unite as one together. There are too many aspects and issues which come into that decision and with human nature, not everyone will agree. By that time it will be too late in order to fix the things which are supposedly already taking place. We will just have to wait and see the end result. Good topic though!