History 485A

Devine

Fall 2011

 

The Ugly American Study Questions

 

 

  1. In The Ugly American, why was Gilbert MacWhite a more effective ambassador than Louis “Lucky” Sears?

 

 

  1. What happens to John Colvin, the powdered milk salesman?  Could he have avoided his fate?  If so, how?

 

 

  1. According to The Ugly American, why were Soviet diplomats more effective in Asia than American diplomats?

 

 

  1. What role does the local press play in facilitating American diplomacy in Asia?  Why did the Americans often fail to understand how the foreign media works?

 

 

  1. Identify what you believe are the best examples recounted in The Ugly American of Americans succeeding in winning over Asian “hearts and minds”?  Explain why the attempts were successful.

 

 

  1. Identify what you believe are the best examples recounted in The Ugly American of Americans failing to win over Asian “hearts and minds”?  Explain why the attempts were so ineffective.

 

 

  1. According to Lederer and Burdick, why were ambitious and costly public works projects not especially helpful in winning over native Asian populations?

 

 

  1. After reading the anecdotes recounted in The Ugly American, why might one conclude that many American foreign service personnel in Asia were more naïve and innocent than malicious or ill-willed?

 

 

  1. Why did the Americans “love Joe Bing” while the Asian natives hated him?  What lessons are Lederer and Burdick trying to teach readers through the character of Joe Bing?

 

 

  1. Why do Lederer and Burdick tell us the story of Tom Knox, the chicken expert?  What do you think we are supposed to take away from it?

 

 

  1. What lessons are Lederer and Burdick trying to teach readers through the character of Colonel Hilllandale?  How does he differ from Joe Bing?

 

 

 

  1. Why does Father Finian succeed at undermining the Communists while many U.S. officials in The Ugly American seem to be completely outplayed by them?

 

 

  1. Why don’t the French and Vietnamese officials like Homer Atkins?  Why doesn’t he like them?

 

 

  1. Though both were well-intentioned, why did the engineer Homer Atkins end up achieving more success in his venture in Sarkhan than did the powdered milk salesman John Colvin?

 

 

  1. Lederer and Burdick wrote this novel with a purpose in mind.  What do you think it was and how effectively do you think they achieve it?

 

 

  1. What do Lederer and Burdick suggest are the shortcomings of American foreign service officers?  Why are some of them so ineffective?

 

 

  1. What traits and skills do Lederer and Burdick believe effective foreign service officers should have but often don’t?

 

 

  1. Lederer and Burdick are trying to point out the shortcomings many Americans often demonstrate in dealing with people in developing nations. Do they themselves seem to have any blind spots?  Hubris?  Patronizing attitudes?