Spring 2015
Tuesday 600p-900p
SYLLABUS
History 531—Diplomatic History
Dr. Brian Robertson
brian.robertson@tamuct.edu
Office: Founder’s Hall 217O
Office Hours:
by Appointment
Office Phone: (254) 519-5441
Introduction
This course is designed to give you an introduction to the major issues and approaches to
the study of U. S. foreign relations in the 20th century. Thus, our curriculum will be at
once broader (thematically) and narrower (chronologically) than the official course title
would suggest. I have designed this as a "readings" course rather than a research
seminar. Accordingly, the focus will be upon familiarizing yourselves with the
interpretations of major themes and events in the history of 20th century U. S. foreign
relations. An additional goal is to investigate how methodologies and interpretations of
that subject have changed over time, and then to consider what we can learn about how
and why different historical contexts have produced different kinds of history.
Format
The class format will be based entirely on discussion. Therefore, it is essential for you to
do the reading and come prepared to discuss it each week. Without that, there is no class.
During each of the weeks that are italicized below, two students will collaborate as
discussion leaders, scouting out reviews of the book in question, as well as the
historiography of the issue we are tackling. (The best sources for reviews of the books
and the historiography we are covering are the Journal of American History, American
Historical Review, Reviews in American History, Diplomatic History, New York Times
Book Review, the book reviews section of other national newspapers, or other journals
contained in J-Stor. You can usually find all relevant reviews for these sources and
others by using either America: History and Life or FirstSearch.) The two discussion
leaders, based on their investigative efforts, will prepare discussion questions to be
emailed to me as a set no later than noon on the Monday before that discussion. I will
then email the class with these questions, which will form the basis of the discussion.
The discussion leaders will begin the class with a brief overview of their findings on the
historiographical significance of the works under consideration (this overview will
absolutely not last longer than 15 minutes), and then lead the discussion based on the
issues raised in their questions. I will intervene as appropriate or necessary.
Assignments
In addition to co-leading one class discussion, students will over the course of the
semester write a one-page single-spaced précise on the assigned readings for a particular
week. (Students need not collaborate on the précises.) These précises should briefly
summarize the argument of the work(s), the events covered, what you see as strengths
and weaknesses, as well as the historiographical context. To get a better grasp of the
historiographical context, you should consult at least one external review (see above),
which you can mention briefly in the text, but should not quote from extensively. The
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purpose of these reviews is to create a primer for anyone who might want to use any of
these books in preparing for their dissertation. Moreover, it is useful for you to begin to
practice summarizing a book in a page.
The other assignment will be a ten to twelve page historiographical essay on a major
topic in the study of U. S. foreign relations. This topic may be one that we cover this
semester, or—with my permission—a different one. You should inform me of your
topics for the longer paper no later than the week after we return from Spring Break.
Finally, as I've mentioned above, the class cannot run without your participation—and,
hence, attendance. I expect you to attend every class. Emergencies happen, but repeated
absences will have a debilitating effect on your overall grade. I should note that I will
also deduct points for any late papers whose tardiness has not been cleared with me in
advance.
Evaluation
Leading class discussion—20%
précises—20%
Overall class participation—30%
Historiographical Essay—30%
Learning Outcomes and Assessment
1. Identify major interpretations and events of 20th century U. S. foreign relations.
2. Evaluate and weigh the merits of one interpretation against another.
3. Produce succinct summaries and analyses of historical works.
4. Develop individual (original) perspectives on historical issues and works.
5. Write an historiographical essay that engages the scholarly literature on a select topic.
The instructor will assess learning outcomes through observing the student's proficiency
in: participating in and leading class discussion, the two précises, and the
historiographical essay.
Accommodation of Disabilities
Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require special arrangements in
order to meet course requirements should contact me as soon as possible so that
necessary accommodations can be made. Students should present appropriate
verification of need for assistance from the Office of Disability Support and Access,
Warrior Hall, Room 212F. See also:
http://www.tamuct.edu/departments/disabilitysupport/index.php
Academic Integrity and Professional Responsibility
I take violations of academic integrity—whether cheating, plagiarism, etc.—with the
utmost seriousness. You will fail the course and I will file a formal record of this
violation with the Chair of the History Department and the Dean of the College. To learn
more about plagiarism, visit: http://www.tamuct.edu/departments/library/plagiarism.php
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Readings:
I have placed an order for the REQUIRED course books listed below with the TTU
bookstore. The Major Problems reader, which combines primary source documents with
brief interpretive essays on select topics in U. S. foreign relations, will be used
throughout the semester as something of a textbook, to make sure that our discussions are
grounded in the history as well as the historiography of each subject. However, the
Major Problems reader is not a textbook, per se, and so those with little or no background
in U. S. foreign relations might wish to consult Walter LaFeber's outstanding textbook,
The American Age.
1. Merrill, Dennis and Thomas G. Paterson, eds., Major Problems in American
Foreign Relations, Volume 2: Since 1914, 7th ed.
2. Williams, William Appleman. The Tragedy of American Diplomacy, New ed.,
1972
3. Hogan, Michael. The Ambiguous Legacy
4. Knock, Thomas. To End All Wars
5. Rodgers, Daniel. Atlantic Crossings
6. Connelly, Matthew. A Diplomatic Revolution
7. Plummer, Brenda, ed. Window on Freedom
8. Lawrence, Mark Atwood. Assuming the Burden.
9. Greene, Graham. The Quiet American
10. Suri, Jeremi. Henry Kissinger and the American Century.
11. Gaddis, John Lewis. Strategies of Containment.
12. Akira Irirye, Global Community.
13. Cuming, Bruce. The Korean War: A History.
SCHEDULE
(n.b. JAH=Journal of American History; DH=Diplomatic History)
January 20
Introduction
January 27
Williams, William Appleman. The Tragedy of American Diplomacy
February 3
Hogan, Michael. The Ambiguous Legacy (Intro, Luce "American Century," &
Essays 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 16)
February 10
Knock, Thomas. To End All Wars
February 17
Rodgers, Daniel. Atlantic Crossings
February 24
Major Problems 2, Chapters 2-4
March 3
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Major Problems 2, Chapters 5-6
Read the following in this order:
Gaddis, John Lewis. "The Emerging Post-Revisionist Synthesis," DH 7 (1983)
Cumings, Bruce. "Revising Post-Revisionism," DH 17 (Fall 1993)
Costigliola, Frank. "Unceasing Pressure for Penetration," JAH 83 (March 1997)
March 10
Major Problems 2, Chapter 7
Cumings, Bruce. The Korean War: A History.
March 17—SPRING BREAK
March 24
Connelly, Matthew. A Diplomatic Revolution
Major Problems 2, Chapter 9
March 31
Plummer, Brenda Gayle, ed. Window on Freedom
April 7
Greene, Graham. The Quiet American
Goodman, James. "For the Love of Stories," Reviews in American History 26
(March 1998)
April 14
Major Problems 2, Chapter 11
Lawrence, Mark Atwood. Assuming the Burden.
April 21
Major Problems 2, Chapters 12-13
Suri, Jeremi. Henry Kissinger and the American Century
April 28
Gaddis, John Lewis. Strategies of Containment
May 5
Major Problems 2, Chapter 14.
Iriye, Akira. Global Community.
FINAL PAPER due no later than May 12
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