This volume investigates how the Reagan administration fundamentally altered the trajectory of American human rights policy and civil rights enforcement during the 1980s. Tinsley E. Yarbrough, a noted scholar of constitutional law and judicial politics, compiles ten original essays from various contributors to analyze the administration's impact. The text evaluates the shift in federal priorities across multiple sectors, including the Justice Department, international relations, and domestic social policy, to determine the long-term consequences of Reagan-era governance.

Scholars and political historians frequently cite this volume as a useful collection for understanding the ideological shifts in federal civil rights enforcement during the 1980s. The text is considered a valuable resource for students of public policy who require a multi-faceted view of the Reagan administration's domestic and international agenda.