HIST 135 The Cold War: A Global History
Taught as schedule allows (consult the Course Directory)
The Cold War was more than a military confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union: it was a global force-field within which the world developed for nearly five decades. This course will explore the Cold War as an international phenomenon, using some of the newest literature covering not only the military and diplomatic history of the period but the social and cultural impact of the confrontation between capitalism and communism. We will explore the origins of the conflict, the formation of opposing blocs, the interplay between periods of tension and détente, and the relationship between the “center” of the conflict in the North Atlantic/European area and the global “periphery,” as well as the remarkable way the Cold War ended. Curiosity about Cold War history and a willingness to explore its drama and complexity are the only prerequisites for this course. No prior knowledge of the subject is assumed.
Course Syllabus (PDF)
