Case 123 - Changing the Rules: President Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative Decision

by ISD - Georgetown University
$ 4.50

Donovan, Frederick and James E. Goodby

This case study examines the events leading up President Ronald Reagan’s March 1983 decision to pursue the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), responding to a massive public movement directed against the nuclear buildup for which Reagan had campaigned. The SDI decision had profound consequences for U.S.-Soviet relations, but especially for their arms control negotiations. This study could be used in courses on international affairs, public policy, national security affairs, international negotiations, presidential decision-making, arms control, or history, with different teaching strategies suited to the background of the participants.