The Politics of British Defence, 1979-98

This book covers two decades of British defense policy. It starts at the end of the 1970s as the Conservative Party comes to office with the Cold War about to enter an unusually tense period. It concludes with the Labour Party back in office and seeking to develop a policy in line with the post-Cold War international system. As one of Britain's leading defense academics, and an advisor to government and parliamentary committees, Lawrence Freedman was well placed to observe and comment on the fast-changing defense scene. In this collection of essays he provides an incisive and well-informed analysis of the major issues influencing policy, including the demands of European security, party politics, budgetary pressures and nuclear deterrence.