---
title: "World’s First “Space” Democracy Struggling To Launch More Than a Satellite"
description: "The citizens of space nation Asguardia have a new constitution. But setting up a parliament is turning out to be a lot more difficult."
date: "2018-04-06"
modified: "2018-04-06"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/first-space-democracy-asguardia"
categories:
  - "Space"
---

# World’s First “Space” Democracy Struggling To Launch More Than a Satellite

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/pri_43266905.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: \<a href="https://twitter.com/asgardiaspace/status/874778497302089728" target="\_blank"\>@AsgardiaSpace/Twitter/James Vaughan\</a\>\</em\>*

Who knew establishing a parliament in space would be so complicated? Certainly not the self-described "Space Kingdom" of Asgardia. The group, which calls itself the first ever global "space nation," has some lofty goals: "to ensure the peaceful use of space, to protect the Earth from space hazards, and to create a demilitarized and free scientific base of knowledge in space."

If that sounds like a far-fetched *Star Trek* endeavor*,* that's because it more or less is. Asgardia was founded back in 2016. Since then, the space nation's leaders have been attempting to lay the groundwork for humanity's ascent to the stars. Emphasis on "attempting."

To begin with, the approval of the [Asgardian constitution](<https://asgardia.space/en/page/constitution>) was riddled issues. [Gizmodo reports](<https://gizmodo.com/the-mostly-online-space-kingdom-of-asgardia-attempts-de-1824310853>) there was essentially no way to vote "no" [against the constitution](<https://asgardia.space/en/forum/forum/constitution-132/topic/how-to-explicitly-reject-the-constitution-6309/>) for the 180,000 people who have registered online as citizens (if only Earth immigration was so simple). Critics of the constitution also pointed out that it gave founder, Dr. Igor Ashurbeyli, far too much control, such as the ability to dissolve parliament, and control over the "Supreme Space Council."

After conspiracy theories of an authoritarian takeover spread on the forums of the Vienna-based NGO, the not-yet nation of Asgardia plunged into chaos. Asguardians felt disconnected from the democratic processes forming their government. At the top of the wanted list was Ashurbeyli. A maniac kleptocrat, with a burning desire to take over space? A possibility. According to [a recent profile](<https://meduza.io/en/feature/2018/01/23/the-space-kingdom-of-asgardia>) on Latvia-based online newspaper *Meduza*. But, then again, [72.5% of the populace](<https://asgardia.space/en/vote/constitution/>) "accepted" the constitution (notice the quotation marks).

Frustrated with how parliamentary procedures were carried out, Asguardia's citizens grew tired of the disconnect between them, and those in control. “We brought with us all the old reflexes of Earth’s politics,” Nissem Abdeljelil, a 31-year-old Asgardian, [tells Gizmodo](<https://gizmodo.com/the-mostly-online-space-kingdom-of-asgardia-attempts-de-1824310853>). How can citizens directly impact change? Run for office, of course. However, plagued with a clunky website still in beta, many of those who were hopeful to land a parliamentary seat were left frustrated (or even skeptical that the system was rigged).

At the very least, Asguardia has already made a preliminary step into outer space. It has ["has officially left Earth."](<https://www.cnet.com/news/asgardia-1-space-kingdom-nasa-orbital-atk-launch-nation/>) Asguardia launched a [shoebox-sized satellite](<https://futurism.com/worlds-first-space-nation-launched-satellite-into-orbit>) into orbit that holds half a terabyte of information about the space nation, including digital copies of the flag and constitution — a somewhat insignificant "small step for man" moment.

Laugh about their rather feeble attempts of getting a space nation off the ground all you want — it's a virtuous endeavor that stretches the imagination, and is giving our (rather distant) future some serious thought. But having a fragmented group of individuals, questionable election processes, and a Russian ["monarch"](<https://meduza.io/en/feature/2018/01/23/the-space-kingdom-of-asgardia>) as leader is bound to end up blowing up in a ball of fire on the launchpad.

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)