HIST 224 - Wars in 20th Century East Asia

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

This course examines social, economic, political, cultural and military aspects of the four major Asian wars of the last century: the Pacific War, the Chinese Civil War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. We begin with definitions of war and the conundrum of just and unjust wars. We next examine alternative interpretations of the origins of war in Asia, including the perspectives of international relations, the social origins, and culture and racism. This is not a course in military history; instead, we pay special attention to the organic socio-historical linkages that connected those four wars. We also examine the domestic side of each war in the U.S. and China, as both countries were deeply involved in all the four wars. The ongoing competitions among East Asian countries and the U.S. in the west Pacific region constitute a backdrop for this course. Students are encouraged to follow them in the newspapers and online and to bring their own observations to the class. Mr. Song.

Two 75-minute periods.