The Reign of Fantasy: The Political Roots of Reagan’s Star Wars Policy

Not just another book on Star Wars, The Reign of Fantasy provides an explanation for the program’s monumental political support during the Reagan years. The fundamental argument of the book is that the more fantastic the Star Wars proposal became, the greater the political success of the SDI program. And, though its primary focus is on Star Wars, the book’s greatest contributions lie in the broader questions it raises concerning presidential leadership. What is the role of utopian visions in presidential politics? How could a surreal dream actually drive strategic policy? What are the future implications of Reagan’s reign of fantasy to American-style democracy?