Political Research Seminar (395-0-27)

Instructors

Jeff Rice
847/491-8916
1908 Sheridan

Meeting Info

Scott Hall 201 Ripton Room: Wed 2:00PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

This seminar will consider the war in three stages and three sets of decisions: it's origins, execution, and the US defeat. Specifically, the series of diplomatic decisions which led (from 1950 on) to US military involvement to the point where US troops and air-power dominated the war; secondly, the actual execution of the war, the use of air-power and defoliants, the hamlet evaluation process, and the effort at a revolving door series of South Vietnamese heads of state; and lastly, the failure of Vietnamization and the eventual defeat in what became an anti-colonial war. Parallels with later US diplo/military adventures will be discussed as well.

Evaluation Method

Students will be responsible for engaging in all three aspects but will be asked to specialize in one. There will be common readings and in-depth readings depending on student choices. Assignments will include a one-page proposal for the final paper, a bibliography, and a final project (choice amongst paper, public presentation of a "poster", or a class presentation of a power point.

Class Attributes

Advanced Expression