Abstract Human practices in new strategic domains, such as outer space and cyberspace, have demonstrated both novelty and complexity, which pose new challenges for the effective interpretation of issues with traditional theories of international relations. Academic arguments over political meaning of new strategic domains are still enlarging. To explain the variety and complexity of state security behaviors in new strategic domains, a perspective from international system is needed. This paper aims to establish a theoretical framework that explains the dynamic interaction between international system and security in new strategic domains. It focuses on the environmental characters, power mechanisms and practice logics in outer space and cyberspace. Such a social process from environmental settings to agent-level practices is constantly interwoven with, influenced by, and simultaneously shaping the international system. This analytic framework aims to provide a new perspective and theoretical foundation for maintaining security in new strategic domains as well as stability in the international system.
