The Eighties

The Eighties pulls back the curtain on the transformative years of the 1980s, engaging readers with a thorough analysis of this pivotal decade. From the shifting American narrative to the impact of the Reagan Revolution, this textbook explores a range of important developments and events that took place in the 1980s. It also sheds light on many of our contemporary cultural and political debates, which have their roots in the decade.

Organized into eight chapters, the book presents a sequential narrative encompassing political, economic, social, and technological phenomena that characterized the 1980s. Topical coverage includes the intensification of the Cold War, the dynamics of oppositional politics and social movements, and the evolving relationship between technology, power, and consumerism. Additionally, the book reflects on foreign policy beyond the Cold War and the Reagan administration’s approach to emerging crises. It explores foreign policy challenges and concludes with an incisive look at the transition to the New World Order, emphasizing the long-term effects on subsequent decades. The second edition features new learning objectives and outcomes, as well as fresh images within each chapter.

The Eighties offers readers an in-depth account of a decade rich with change that continues to influence the contemporary world. It is ideal for courses in modern history, political science, and cultural studies.