4. Social Change

About this Lecture

Lecture

In this module, we think about the nature and extent of social during Reagan’s presidency, focusing in particular on the AIDS crisis of the 1980s and the so-called ‘culture wars’. As we move through the module, we consider: (i) why Reagan’s response to the AIDS crisis was so inadequate; (ii) the importance of the Christian right in post-war politics in the United States; and (iii) Reagan’s relationship with the Christian right and its impacts on his decision-making.

Course

In this course, Dr James Cooper (York St John University) explores the presidency of Ronald Reagan (1981-89). After a brief introduction in which we think about Reagan’s legacy today, the subsequent five modules explore five key questions relating to his presidency: (1) How successful were Reagan’s economic policies? To what extent were the benefits spread fairly across American society?; (2) To what extent did Reagan reduce ‘big government’?; (3) What was the nature and extent of social change during Reagan’s presidency?; (4) To what extent did Reagan ‘revitalise’ the presidency and US politics in general?; and (5) How successful was Reagan’s foreign policy?

Lecturer

James Cooper is Senior Lecturer at York St John University, specialising in American history and Anglo-American relations. His recent publications include Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan: A Very Political Special Relationship (2012) and The Politics of Diplomacy: U.S. Presidents and the Northern Ireland Conflict, 1967-98 (2017).