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WiSe 19/20: U.S. Foreign Relations in the 20th-Century History

Jessica Gienow-Hecht

Comments

his introductory course (Seminar) constitutes the first part of Module A (North America in the World). While the first part (Seminar) is designed as a broad introduction to the period by looking at a general theme, the second part (Hauptseminar) zooms in on a specific topic, offering students the opportunity to do primary source research and write a paper. Both parts are scheduled back to back (Wed., 8:30-10, 10-12pm), and students required to cover the entire module are encouraged to enroll in both courses simultaneously. Students wishing to compose a full research paper (Hausarbeit) at the end of the term are strongly encouraged to do so in the second part (Hauptseminar) of Module A (Tues., 10-12pm). Topic: In international history, the twentieth century has been turbulent, violent and contradictory. Declared as the “Century of the Child” and alternately labelled “short” (Hobsbawm), “American” (Luce), or “genocidal” (Levene), it has produced tremendous technological progress, mass migration, the shrinking of geographical distances along with great human tragedy, socio-political upheaval, and conflicting cultural trajectories the world over. Two world wars, a “cold” war that set much of Southeast Asia aflame, several arms races, countless peace treaties, and an exploding governmental bureaucracy dedicated to managing U.S. relations with the world beyond its borders turned an original marginal executive occupation – diplomacy – into a key competency. Besides, new U.S. actors with individual agendas and a growing appetite for influence appeared in the international arena, including doctors, tourists, scientists, and pop stars. On a broader level, rapid industrialization, bursts of nationalism, the encounter with anticolonialism, the clash between democracy, socialism, and religious fundamentalism, along with economic globalization have profoundly affected the U.S. nation’s experiences abroad and the resulting historical memory. We will evaluate some of the most recent historical writings on the history of U.S. foreign relations in the twentieth century history in order to provide a state-of-the-art assessment where that research stands along with an in-depth foundation of knowledge for the period, all this to examine the legacy of U.S. 20th-century foreign relations for the contemporary world? Course: The seminar seeks to fulfill two premises: first, we will spend a significant amount of time considering some of the most recent literature dedicated to the history of U.S. foreign relations history. Historians have identified peculiar factors informing U.S. foreign relations and the historical memory contemporaries hold of that era. These include the role of women and minorities in foreign relations, technological development and arms races, the cold war, globalization, civil and human rights. But none of these was generic to the United States. What cocktail, we’ll ask eventually, made the twentieth century a peculiar American experience? Second, we will try to understand the legacy of U.S. foreign relations for today and discuss whether there are particular lessons for the impending future. For general reading, I recommend Sessions: Each session consists of a brief introduction by the instructor followed by an all-class discussion and a student presentation. In the course of the seminar, student teams meet with the instructor during her office hours two weeks prior to the session during which they will be presenting. During the meeting, they will discuss at least one primary source (preferably two or more) complementing the lecture and relating directly to the topic of the assigned week. Teams will explain their choice, summarize their selection, and make a recommendation which source(s) should be used in what fashion in class. Requirements: Active class participation; engagement with the weekly readings and uploading of a weekly “précis” to Blackboard 24 hours prior to class; team leadership, research and discussion of a primary source(s) (visual, text, sound) in class, as well as a synopsis of the session. No more than two no-shows are acceptable. To obtain a “Leistungsschein,” you are strongly encouraged to do so in the second part of this module (Modul A Hauptseminar), as the present course is a survey course (Grundlagenveranstaltung) rather than a seminar providing in-depth examination. close