print friendly version What is exopolitics?
Michael Salla
Alfred Webre
So what is exopolitics? Let's look at three different definitions:
- Wikipedia: Exopolitics, a speculative branch of political science, is the study of possible contact and relations between humanity and extraterrestrial civilizations.
- Michael Salla, founder of the Exopolitics Institute, gives two, complimentary, definitions:
- Exopolitics is the study of the key individuals, institutions and political processes associated with extraterrestrial life.
- Exopolitics is the study of the political implications of the extraterrestrial presence on Earth.
- Alfred Webre 'invented' the word exopolitics and describes it as "the study of political process and governance in interstellar society."
Exopolitics can therefore be defined as a new scientific discipline that focuses on the political aspects of interactions with extraterrestrial life. It studies the key individuals, institutions and political processes that are associated with extraterrestrial life in general, as well as, more specifically, those associated with the extraterrestrial presence here on Earth.
Fields of research
Starting from the definition, we can already define the following fields of research: Exopolitics studies
- the key individuals,
- institutions and
- political processes
that are associated with the extraterrestrial presence here on Earth.
In other words, we want to know who is doing what and how with regard to the extraterrestrial presence here on Earth. There are two facets to this: on the one hand there are the human individuals, institutions and political processes, and on the other hand there are the extraterrestrial individuals, institutions and political processes. Who are the extraterrestrials that are present, or have been present here on Earth, and what are they up to? And who, on the human side, is involved in all of this, and what are they doing?
To find this out, there are certain areas of interest that, at present, reveal the most information. Exopolitics, e.g., investigates phenomena like close encounters with extraterrestrials (contactees), and alien abductions. It tries to identify the various players or groups that appear to be active, and describe their activities, and possibly their intentions. It also looks at the reactions of the "powers that be" to this extraterrestrial presence, and at the policies they came up with to deal with it.
Another important area of interest is that of possible official interactions with extraterrestrials. There are, e.g. indications that the USG already in 1954 may have had official contact with extraterrestrials. Exopolitics therefore also deals with galactic diplomacy, and with the study of agreements or treaties that may already have been established, or that will be established.
Another phenomenon that is closely related to this, is that of the official and unofficial policies of governments all over the world with regard to the extraterrestrial presence. There seems to be an officially instituted cover-up in place with regard to the extraterrestrial presence. Exopolitics studies these policies of cover-up, as well as the policies of disclosure.
Methodology
Being a political science, exopolitics uses the standard methodologies of the political sciences. For these, a qualitative approach is needed, rather than a quantitative or quantifiable one. Exopolitics identifies key players (individuals, institutions and other groups), processes, dynamics, and policies. It analyzes behaviour and motivations of people, institutions and groups. It also focuses on the purposes and the effectiveness of certain policies, etc., and tries to discover (predictable) patterns.
One of the common tools at our disposal is the usage of typologies. When analyzing the existing literature about extraterrestrials here on Earth, e.g., Michael Salla noticed that the extraterrestrials were described in one of four categories or types. These are:
- Helpers,
- Intruders,
- Manipulators, and
- Watchers.
(See Study Paper 1, The Need for Exopolitics: Implications of the Extraterrestrial Conspiracy Theories for Policy Makers and Global Peace, published online at http://www.exopolitcs.org/Study-Paper-1.htm for more information).