Proseminar Introduction to Cold War History

Please do not register anymore. Course is overflowing. The Cold War was a central factor in world politics for about half a century. It dominated the foreign policies of the United States and the Soviet Union and it affected the diplomacy and domestic policies of most other nations. Understanding its origins and dynamics is therefore central to the understanding of international history of the second half of the 20th century. This class introduces students to the main themes, events, and interpretations of the Cold War, and particularly of its origins. We will do so by reading and discussing two concise yet comprehensive accounts of that conflict: David S. Painter, The Cold War: An International History, London and New York: Routledge, 1999. Robert J. McMahon, The Cold War: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. These texts will on occasion be accompanied by additional material (book excerpts and articles) as we go along. Each week, we will examine one key topic of the cold war, look at what it was about, and analyze the explanations and interpretations offered. The books will be available through unibuch and the additional material from Copyblitz from the first week of classes on. Requirements for successful completion are governed by the academic regulations that apply to you individually. As a general rule for an undergraduate seminar, however, they include: Regular attendance and class participation. A short presentation on the readings for one class. These may be group presentations. A short paper/critical essay on the readings for one class. This may grow out of your presentation but may only be an individual task. Modularized students should expect to write a five-page essay (and no longer, please). Non-modularized students need to hand in a ten-page paper (again, no longer, please). Be sure to consult your academic regulations! FB 05 Gesellschaftswissenschaften Uni Kassel SoSe 2010 Anglistik/Englisch Wirtschaftspädagogik Schneider Matthias