Cold War Fantasies: Film, Fiction, and Foreign Policy

“Useful for gathering ideas for a foreign policy and film/novel course.” ―Choice Reviews

“Lipschutz presents an accessible, yet thoughtful account of the political activities and cultural climate of the Cold War, using discussion on films (mostly) and some fiction as pedagogical tools. Certainly this book could nicely shape a course, but self-study is as convenient as the local video store.” ―Reference and Research Book News

“The historical narrative that drives the plot forward is brilliantly executed. Lipschutz’s narrative is deceptively easy to read. He skillfully weaves the two texts together and packs a lot of information into a confined space without ever losing his story’s momentum.” ―Millennium

“Lipschutz provides an accessible pedagogical tool to enliven historical studies with film and illuminate broader political and economic issues on cinema and literature.” ―Film & History: An Interdisciplinary Journal

“What can films like Bladerunner or Invasion of the Body Snatchers and novels such as 1984 or Rising Sun, tell us about the Cold War and U.S. foreign policy? Quite a lot, it turns out. In a delightful book suitable both for teaching and for a popular audience, Ronnie Lipschutz provides a fresh and accessible account of U.S. foreign policy since World War II. His lucid and entertaining analysis moves easily from fact to fiction, and back again, highlighting the continuities and interconnections between popular culture and state policy.” ―Jutta Weldes, University of Bristol, U.K.

Ronnie D. Lipschutz is professor of politics at the University of California at Santa Cruz.