Weapons in Space: Technology, Politics, and the Rise and Fall of the Strategic Defense Initiative

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Aaron Bateman

Weapons in Space

Technology, Politics, and the Rise and Fall of the Strategic Defense Initiative

Aaron Bateman

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English

MIT Press
07 May 2024

Warfare & defence; History of engineering & technology; Aerospace & aviation technology

A new and provocative take on the formerly classified history of accelerating superpower military competition in space in the late Cold War and beyond.

A new and provocative take on the formerly classified history of accelerating superpower military competition in space in the late Cold War and beyond.

In March 1983, President Ronald Reagan shocked the world when he established the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), derisively known as ""Star Wars,"" a space-based missile defense program that aimed to protect the US from nuclear attack. In Weapons in Space, Aaron Bateman draws from recently declassified American, European, and Soviet documents to give an insightful account of SDI, situating it within a new phase in the militarization of space after the superpower detente fell apart in the 1970s. In doing so, Bateman reveals the largely secret role of military space technologies in late-Cold War US defense strategy and foreign relations.

In contrast to existing narratives, Weapons in Space shows how tension over the role of military space technologies in American statecraft was a central source of SDI's controversy, even more so than questions of technical feasibility. By detailing the participation of Western European countries in SDI research and development, Bateman reframes space militarization in the 1970s and 1980s as an international phenomenon. He further reveals that even though SDI did not come to fruition, it obstructed diplomatic efforts to create new arms control limits in space. Consequently, Weapons in Space carries the legacy of SDI into the post-Cold War era and shows how this controversial program continues to shape the global discourse about instability in space-and the growing anxieties about a twenty-first-century space arms race.

By: Aaron Bateman
Imprint: MIT Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm,
Weight: 369g
ISBN: 9780262547369
ISBN 10: 0262547368
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 07 May 2024
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Aaron Bateman is Assistant Professor of History and International Affairs at George Washington University. He has published widely on technology and international security during the Cold War. He received his PhD in history of science from Johns Hopkins University.

Reviews for Weapons in Space: Technology, Politics, and the Rise and Fall of the Strategic Defense Initiative

“Weapons in Space will serve as a useful case study in a number of subject areas and will offer valuable lessons for researchers and policymakers for years to come.” —Journal of Policy and Strategy “Weapons in Space is a major accomplishment in the political and historical study of outer space. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the transnational history and politics of outer space, especially for those more interested in its military, industrial, and political dimensions.” —H-Net Reviews “Drawing on previously classified documents, Bateman pulls back the curtain on political and diplomatic discussions. While rooted in the past, the book is a serious contribution to contemporary international security scholarship because we continue to have concerns about the weaponization of space today.” —Binding Hook “Bateman succeeds in making a complex topic accessible... The book is worthwhile for anyone interested in exploring the intersection of technology and politics in military strategy, offering lessons that remain relevant in today’s increasingly complex global security environment.” —Journal of Military Strategy “This work is a must read for space enthusiasts and policy makers so that we do not repeat past mistakes and keep near and outer space a safe adventure for all.” —Choice