NATO and the Strategic Defence Initiative: A Transatlantic History of the Star Wars Programme

This book explores the largely neglected issue of responses to the US Strategic Defence Initiative (SDI) across NATO, examining how the American initiative provoked a crisis in relations with its allies and how those tensions were ultimately resolved. It will be of interest to students of Cold War history, strategic studies, foreign policy, and international history.

Format: Hardback
Length: 252 pages
Publication date: 19 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive exploration delves into the largely overlooked realm of responses to the United States Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI, also known as the Star Wars missile defense program) across NATO. The chapters within this volume delve into the reactions of various Western allies to the announcement of the SDI in 1983, particularly the 1985 invitation to participate. While existing studies have examined the origins and potential impact of the American program on the end of the Cold War, this volume takes a novel approach by examining the profound effects of the SDI on transatlantic relations during the 1980s. Drawing upon newly accessible archival sources, this volume reevaluates the responses of eight NATO member-state governments, as well as the Soviet leadership, to the SDI. In addition to exploring the "top-down governmental reactions," the volume also delves into the "bottom-up response" of civil society and peace activists on both sides of the Atlantic. By examining how the American initiative, often derided as "Star Wars" by its detractors, sparked a crisis in relations with its allies during the final decade of the Cold War, the volume sheds light on the mechanisms employed to resolve these tensions within NATO. This book holds immense appeal to students of Cold War history, strategic studies, foreign policy, and international history, offering valuable insights into a pivotal period of global geopolitical dynamics.

Weight: 640g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367612184