COSEM-UA 106 - American Wars, Past and Present: Vietnam, Iraq (I and II), Afghanistan

Institution:

New York University

Subject:

Description:

Considers the last two major wars of the 20th century and the first two of the 21st century. The seminar begins with the history, memory, and subsequent political uses of the Vietnam War. We then move on to examine the Gulf War I (Operation Desert Storm), which was shaped by the way the administration of President George H. W. Bush understood the Vietnam War. The subsequent war in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) can be understood in part in terms of what some policymakers believed to be the unfinished business of Gulf War I. Yet it too was fought in the shadow of Vietnam analogies. Finally, the war in Afghanistan, launched in response to 9/11, in terms of tactics and goals, has been shaped by all three of the preceding wars. We examine these wars through primary documents and secondary sources, as well as the abundance of documentary and fiction film in which they have all been represented. The overarching concern of the seminar is the ongoing haunting of American politics-military and civilian-by a war fought over three decades ago. There are two connected questions: Can history teach? What does it teach?

Credits:

4.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.nyu.edu

Phone Number:

(212) 998-1212

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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