History

This course traces the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union, from the beginnings of their tense wartime alliance until the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe in 1989. The early part of the course concentrates predominantly on the Soviet-US confrontation in Europe following the establishment and consolidation of Communist regimes in Eastern and Central Europe from 1944-48. Particular attention is paid to the events of February 1948 in Czechoslovakia and to the Berlin Airlift crisis of 1949. The period of the relaxation of East-West tensions which followed Stalin's death in 1953 is examined through a focus on negotiations over the fate of Austria and Germany, and the upheavals in Poland and Hungary in 1956. From its European beginnings, the course branches out to consider the Cold War in its global context, especially in its relationship to Third World nationalism, non-alignment, and anti-imperialism. The final weeks examine the crushing of the Prague Spring, the period of Détente, and the sudden and largely unanticipated end to the conflict in the 1980s, with a particular emphasis on the revolutions in Central and Eastern Europe in 1989.

This course provides an introduction and historical analysis of East Asia since 1600 to the present day. It provides a foundational grounding in the histories of China, Korea, and Japan in the modern era since 1600. The course examines the distinctive features of national histories in East Asia, as well as the cross-regional qualities of traditions and contestations within the region. The course discusses how the Ming-Qing transition in 17th-century China affected political discourse in Korea and Japan; how Western imperialism was encountered and responded to in China, Korea, and Japan in the 19th century; and how the experiences and memories of the 20th century have defined the nature of political and cultural interactions in East Asia. This course develops a fundamental knowledge of major historical themes in modern East Asia, as well as an understanding of the nature of cultural transmission, interactions, and tensions within the region. It also examines the traditions and transformations of East Asian societies.

When thinking of US-Japanese history, the words usually coming to mind are Pearl Harbor, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, or Okinawa. But beyond their violent clash in World War II, both countries share a fascinating historical relationship dating back to the 1850s. This seminar introduces the major events, developments, and dynamics that have shaped this relationship from the mid-19th century until the Cold War. The course investigates issues of diplomacy, trade, migration, war, and cultural transmission to show how closely the histories of both countries have been intertwined and shaped by one another.