The Politics of Remote Sensing with Particular Reference to Developing Countries

Abstract

This thesis can be divided roughly into two sections. The first section, Chapters One to Four inclusive, present a brief history of satellite remote sensing, followed by an attempt to assess the political and socio-economic facets of the technology, and their consequent implications for Third World countries. This section includes an in-depth discussion of the legal and commercial issues associated with remote sensing, and a general discussion of various other factors, such as overwhelming financial difficulties, that have prevented or restricted the employment of the technology in Less Developed Countries. The second section, Chapters Five to Eight inclusive, details various benefits to be gained from the use of satellite remote sensing and attempts to present the means by which it could successfully be adopted and utilised in the Third World. India is used as an example of a Third World state that has successfully employed remote sensing for national development. The way in which India established its remote sensing programme is carefully analysed and discussed, using it as an example that other Third World countries could possibly follow and adopt. The research concludes that, politically, remote sensing has proven an extremely controversial subject, especially in the Third World. The ability of satellite remote sensing to aid development within Less Developed countries is recognised, but it is also accepted that most of these countries are obstructed by many problems if they wish to attempt to adopt this technology.