Research On Strategic Defense Initiative Under The View Of Political Discourse Power

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI henceforth) is a great and most effective scientificproject which touches most upon other fields in the later period of American history.SDI was carried out under the rising of U.S. new conservative power and the politicalcircle turbulence of Soviet Union. It symbols that U.S. strategy of MAD (mutuallyassured destruction) turns to MAS (mutually assured surveillance). Not only SDI leadsthe development of aerospace technologies taking missile defense technology as a core,but also impels the end of military competition between America and Soviet Union.The thesis makes use of American congress’ deciphering records and a great dealof government documents to learn the trace of SDI in1980s, and U.S. domestic politicaldecision and U.S.-Soviet political competition, through historic document criticizingand case analyzing on the base of Pirk’s Political Situation Shaping Theory. The resultsare:1. Reagan’s SDI accords with U.S. consistent missile defense policy. Nationalsecurity is its final target. The use of symbolizing politics is a strategy in the practicingof SDI.2. Reagan’s government applies rational attitudes towards scientists andtechnology policies. On one hand, the government attaches importance to science andtechnology, encouraging scientist to take part in research. It provides enough economicsupport and allows them to choose items freely. On the other hand, the government doesnot post scientific policies on supreme position. Not only it keeps changing andadjusting content and investment of SDI, but also places the importance of symbolizingpolitics above scientific plan.3. The civil prospect of science and technology decides itsvitality in peaceful time and effectiveness of symbolizing politics. Thus, U.S.government changes the common rule that military technologies develop first and takescientific tasks to civil department in priority to dig its civil values, on which base, thearmy chooses strategic technologies to invest or develop them itself in secret.To study symbolizing politics in SDI will help to judge and reply U.S. strategicintention of future science and technology policies, and in addition, give profitablecontemplation to science and technology decision of our nation.