Science fiction often poses bold questions about social values and processes. These questions rarely address future problems, which authors have no means of predicting. The point of reference of works of science fiction is their own era; they reflect contemporary dilemmas and worldviews. However, by locating the action in the future, creators are freer to comment on current affairs. This was also the case with the Cold War, the major international reality of its era. Culture, including popular culture and science fiction, has already become the subject of Cold War studies.1
This article discusses perceptions of the Cold War in the first two Star Trek series: The Original Series (TOS), which ran from 1966 until 1969, and The Next Generation (TNG), from 1987 until 1991. The motion pictures of 1979–1991, featuring the crew of the original series, are also discussed. Post-1991 episodes of TNG and...