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Inventing GPS: Technology and International Security in the Cold War and Beyond

Project description

The first complete historiography of GPS

Global positioning system (GPS) is an important innovation of the post-war period that revolutionised a wide range of fields. However, a GPS historiography is still missing. The EU-funded Inventing GPS project will provide the first complete historiographical study of GPS development using new empirical archival evidence and extensive oral history interviews. The project will explore the history of satellite navigation, contributing to designing policies relevant to the EU’s common security and defence policy. Researchers will focus on the interconnection of technological innovation in satellite-based navigation with Cold War politics and military-strategic culture. Inventing GPS will also analyse how EUs global navigation satellite system Galileo will impact European security.

Objective

One of the most significant technological innovations of the post-war era, the development of GPS revolutionised the way we navigate, fight wars, design maps, and keep time. However, a GPS historiography does not exist yet. The objective of this project is to provide the first in-depth historiographical study of Global Positioning System (GPS) development through new empirical archival evidence and extensive oral history interviews. Relatedly, by exploring the history of satellite-navigation, the project will also contribute to designing policies relevant to the EU’s Common Defence and Security Policy (CDSP). The project will highlight the interconnection of technological innovation in the field of satellite-based navigation with Cold War politics and military-strategic culture. The overarching argument is that the development of GPS was born out of the paradigm transformation that took place within the U.S. Air Force in the early-to-mid 1970s in favour of a ‘counterforce’ military doctrine. The ancillary argument is that GPS was part of a broader attempt by the United States to direct R&D efforts towards regaining qualitative and technological superiority over the Soviet Union in the aftermath of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks. Additionally, through innovative ‘applied history’ methods, the project will analyse the implications of GALILEO for the future of European security. These issues are particularly timely in the context of increased international tension, the erosion of U.S. leadership in European defence matters, and the related initiatives to further integrate EU defence policies parallel to NATO, particularly after Brexit. Against this background, the project will assess the relevance of independent access to satellite-navigation as an essential tool in any far-sighted policy of EU defence integration. The action will allow the ER to establish himself as a leading scholar in his field and be competitive in the European academic job market.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITA CA' FOSCARI VENEZIA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 237 768,00
Address
DORSODURO 3246
30123 VENEZIA
Italy

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Region
Nord-Est Veneto Venezia
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 237 768,00

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