This history of the Strategic Defense Initiative ranges across politics, economics, strategic studies and international relations, and provides the latest research into the SDI interest groups, the distribution of contracts, and the politics of influence. It discusses the wider contexts of 'Star Wars', such as alliance management, marketing, and domestic politics, and its military spin-offs, especially for anti-satellite (ASAT) and 'space control' programmes. The author tests the theoretical literature on the dynamics of the arms race by using SDI as a case study, and draws evidence from sources such as congressional hearings, interviews, the trade press, restricted briefing papers, and documents obtained under the US Freedom of Information Act. The book follows the fortunes of strategic defence into the changed global conditions of the 1990s, following the collapse of the Soviet bloc, the Gulf War, and President Bush's announcement of a refocused SDI, the Global Protection Against Limited Strikes (GPALS).

This history of the Strategic Defense Initiative shows how political, economic, strategic and cultural factors have interacted to shape SDI.
Reviews
'This is the best book I have read this year; a clear, cogent and coherent account of the evolution of the SDI, chronologically and thematically arranged to cover all its aspects ... invaluable ... detailed and documented analysis ... irresistible.' Defense Analysis
'This is the best book I have read this year ... invaluable ... irresistible.' Defence Analysis
'This is the best book I have read this year; a clear, cogent and coherent account of the evolution of the SDI, chronologically and thematically arranged to cover all its aspects ... invaluable ... irresistible.' Defence Analysis



Book Information
ISBN 9780521410977
Author Edward Reiss
Format Hardback
Page Count 264
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 471g
Dimensions(mm) 238mm * 158mm * 24mm