Question If/when we colonise another planet, who governs it?

[fsci123]

Well i would suspect that if it was a scientific base the people that reside there would be governed by the countries they came from. If the base was setup not directly by government but by a group of people with citizenship to a specific country that base could be considered part of the country it came from.

example: If a radical mormon cultist borrowed several billion dollars from his followers and decided to make a base on mars for him and his 12 wives so he can practice polygamy. He wouldnt have to worry about police knocking on his door but he would have to worry about being charged with a host of charges if and when he returns home....

Far far in the future we could see the establishment of well defined national territory on extraterrestrial bodies(i doubt there would be any wars). We could even see the formation of independent states during political crisis back on earth.

example: The world went perfect and the soviet union establishes a base on the moon which at its peak contains 1M people. 1991 soviet union falls apart and in the process the base is given autonomy....

 

[NTpspE]

But as soon as one nation sends any form of military equipment and personnel, every other nation will as well won't they?
Though like Jedidia said, I think crime would be pretty low, because if you stole something, you're basically stuck on Mars, as no one will want to take you back. If that person's happy with staying on Mars, then we'll end up with interplanetary prisons, which require guards, and then further complicates things.

Then we end up with something like Red Faction Lmao!

 

[Ghostrider]

But as soon as one nation sends any form of military equipment and personnel, every other nation will as well won't they?

If they have the spacelift capability and the personnel and equipment, they could. of course orbital dynamics being what they are, anyone launching after the first nation will land later and find themselves at a disadvantage, bar some crazy TransX action.

 

[NukeET]

Sounds like the debate in the Heinlein novel, "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress".

 

[FADEC]

At around one manned launch every couple years, they aren't exactly a big competiter in manned spaceflight.

At the present age. When we're going to spread our wings into the universe in future, things may look rather different...