Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

A writing-intensive examination of selected topics in the history of the Americas. The content will vary from offering to offering. See department for further information. Students may not take selected topics within HIST 374W for further credit if duplicating content of another history course and vice versa. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

The United States and the Global Cold War

This course will investigate the United States’ role in the global conflict known as the “Cold War,” which is commonly described as having begun after the conclusion of the Second World War in 1945 and lasted until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The term “Cold War” has become embedded in popular culture. It is invoked to depict two adversaries, such as when the media warns of a “new Cold War.” These depictions invoke a binary conflict: two enemies staring at one another, with a “prize” in between that is to be fought over. This course moves beyond consideration of the Cold War as a bi-polar confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union, as it approaches it as a truly global conflict involving the interplay of multiple spheres. While it gives justified attention to events in the European theatre, it transcends the “the Western Bloc versus Eastern Bloc” narrative so as to discover the vital role played by nations all around the world. It will not simply reflect on how the United States acted upon these states, bur rather, will explore how it interacted with them as part of an international conflict. As this course has a “W” designation, writing will receive considerable care, primarily through two means: 1) interrogation of the writing of historians through weekly readings 2) writing assignments that will give students an opportunity to improve and revise their work.


This course will be comprised of a lecture component and a tutorial component.

Grading

Materials

REQUIRED READING: