"Leave Her Johnny Leave Her:" The Cold War and the Decline of American Shipbuilding

Abstract

This study seeks to enhance our understanding of the American shipbuilding industry during the Cold War period. It argues against the widespread notion that the decline of the American shipbuilding industry during this period was caused by an ideological preference for privatization, arguing instead that changes in Government structure and policy are responsible for the decline both of public and private shipyards. Several case studies are provided, illustrating how the industry was affected by: the creation of the Department of Defense; McNamara?s management practices; developments in the commercial sector; and competition in the Reagan era. I conclude that the decline of the American shipbuilding industry after WWII was caused not simply by the forces of privatization but by short-sighted Government policies that failed to adequately address the economic realities faced by the shipbuilding industry.