“American Thought and Culture in the Early Cold War Era”

History 502B

Syllabus and Survival Guide

 

 

Fall 2002

Thursday 7:00 pm – 9:50 pm, Sierra Hall 198

 

Instructor

 

Dr. Thomas W. Devine

Phone: (818) 677-3550 (office)  (818) 773-2681 (home)

Email: tom.devine@csun.edu

 

 

Reading

 

The following books – listed in the order in which we will read them – are available at the Matador Bookstore.  Any other readings will be provided in class.

 

                                                                                             

To subvert the system and to save yourself some money, you might consider buying used copies of the books.  I would suggest the following web sites where you are likely to find used or discounted copies at significantly lower prices:

http://www.bookfinder.com/; http://www.half.com/; http://www.alibris.com/; http://www.abebooks.com/

 

Spirit of the Course

 

This colloquium, which covers on the period 1945-1962, will examine the early – and most volatile – years of the Cold War.  In exploring the effects of this protracted superpower conflict on American thought and culture, we will read both primary sources and the work of political, diplomatic, cultural, and intellectual historians.  During the semester’s first few weeks, we will investigate the origins of the Cold War from both the United States and Soviet perspectives and then move on to analyze the numerous ramifications it produced, particularly within American society, but also abroad.  Though we will be covering a wide variety of topics, there are certain themes that we will be revisiting throughout the course of the semester:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You will also have the opportunity to follow the historiography that has developed around the topics we will explore.  Though the emphasis of the course will not be on historiographical issues, I will introduce and we will all discuss scholarly controversies where appropriate.

 

Requirements

 

Leading Discussion

One person (or, on some occasions, two people) will be responsible for leading the discussion each week.  The discussion leader(s) will compose a list of 8 questions that address the major themes and substantive issues raised in the reading.  The discussion leader(s) will meet with me ahead of time to go over his or her questions.  Before the seminar begins, he or she will also provide each member of the class 1) a copy of the questions and 2) a 2-page single-spaced précis of the required reading. (I can handle the copying if you get your questions and précis to me shortly before class.) 

 

Completing the Reading and Participating in Discussion

This is a seminar-style course in which active participation in the weekly discussions is crucial to the class’s success.  Our meetings will be conversations – free, open, and informal exchanges of ideas based on the assigned readings – and I expect everyone to take part.  I will do my best to insure each student has ample opportunity to contribute, but, ultimately, it will be up to you to make certain that you remain an active participant rather than a passive observer.  Since the reading load for this course is heavy, I have deliberately avoided weekly writing assignments and other “busy work” to give you time to complete the required reading and to think about it critically BEFORE coming to class.  It is your responsibility to do so.

 

Semester Project

Select a topic covered in the assigned reading or one closely related to material in the course that you find to be of interest and explore a selection of the available primary sources related to this topic.  Then, in a 10-page essay, present your own historical analysis of these sources.  So as to prevent you from putting this assignment off until the last moment, I will ask for a written status report on your work at the mid-point of the semester. Do not resubmit work that you have already prepared in conjunction with another class.

 

Final Essay

In a 7-8 page essay due at the end of the semester, you will answer one of five questions that will be directly related to the course themes listed above.  The essay will be based only on the assigned reading. 

 

Bringing Food

On one occasion during the semester, each person will bring a snack for the entire class to enjoy at the break.  Optimally, this snack will be related in some way to that week’s topic.

 

Grading

 

Class Participation                                       --50%

Semester Project [10 pages]                         --25%

Final Essay (7-8 pages)                                 --25%

 

All grading will be done on the +/ – system.

 

Surviving

 

Attendance

Since this class meets only once a week, it is important, and it is expected, that you will be at every session.  Inevitably, an occasion may arise when you are unable to attend.  Out of fairness to your classmates who do attend every week, however, each absence past the first two will adversely affect your final grade.  Also, given the heavy weight placed on in-class discussion, any absence is likely to detract from your participation grade.  To make up for a missed class, you may turn in a 2-page, single-spaced précis summarizing the reading for the class you missed.

 

Classroom Procedure/Common Courtesy

Although our discussions can (and should) be lively and informal, it is also important to keep in mind that you are in a seminar room and that you should act accordingly.  Please be courteous to your classmates.  Wait to be recognized before speaking and do not interrupt others when they have the floor.  Also, be aware that everyone is trying to be an active participant, but some find this easier than others.  Whenever possible, if you have already made a comment on a particular point, defer to those who have not yet spoken.

 

Problems

I appreciate that most CSUN graduate students are stretching themselves quite thin, often working full time while taking classes at night.  If you are feeling overwhelmed, find yourself falling behind, or are having any problems outside of class that are adversely affecting your performance in class, be sure to let me know.  Do not wait until the end of the semester when it will be too late.  I am more than willing to work with you to insure you “survive,” but I need to know you are having difficulties.  You will find that as long as you keep me up to speed, I will be very sympathetic.

 

Discussion Topics and Assignments

 

Schedule

 

30 Jan.        Origins of the Cold War I: The American Perspective

Reading: Woods and Jones, Dawning of the Cold War

 

 

Discussion Leader: ___________________________________

 

6 Feb.          Origins of the Cold War II: The Soviet Perspective

                   Reading: Mastny, The Cold War and Soviet Insecurity

 

                  

                   Discussion Leader: ___________________________________

 

13 Feb.        The Cold War and Presidential Politics

Reading: Ross, The Loneliest Campaign

                  

 

                   Discussion Leader: ___________________________________

 

20 Feb.        Locating the “Vital Center”: Intellectuals Adapt to the Cold War

                   Reading: Pells, The Liberal Mind in a Conservative Age, Ch. 1-3

                                  William L. O’Neill, A Better World, Ch. 7

                  

                  

                   Discussion Leader: ___________________________________

 

 

27 Feb.        OPEN DATE

 

 

6 Mar.         The Cultural Impact of Anti-Communism

                   Reading: Whitfield, The Culture of the Cold War

 

 

Discussion Leader: ___________________________________

 

13 Mar.       War by Other Means: Selling the American Way of Life

                   Reading: Hixson, Parting the Curtain

 

 

                   Discussion Leader: ___________________________________

 

20 Mar.       “The Whole World is Watching” – Race Relations and Diplomacy

                   Reading: Dudziak, Cold War Civil Rights

 

 

                   Discussion Leader: ___________________________________

 

27 Mar.       The Cold War at the Grass Roots

                   Reading: Jenkins, Cold War at Home

 

 

                   Discussion Leader: ___________________________________

 

3 Apr.          “Anxiety, Alienation, Affluence, and Anti-Communism”: Social Thought in Eisenhower’s America

                   Reading: Pells, Liberal Mind in a Conservative Age, Ch 4-6, Epilogue

                                  O’Neill, A Better World, Ch 10

 

 

                   Discussion Leader: ___________________________________

 

10 Apr.        “The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit” : Cold War Meets Corporate America

                   Reading: Whyte, Jr., The Organization Man

 

 

                   Discussion Leader: ___________________________________

         

 

17 Apr.        SPRING BREAK

 

 

24 Apr.        Domestic Containment: Marital Bliss in the Atomic Age

                   Reading: May, Homeward Bound

 

 

                   Discussion Leader: ___________________________________

 

 

1 May          “Do You Know Where Your Children Are?” : Saving America from the 1,000,000 Delinquents

                   Reading: Gilbert, Cycle of Outrage

 

 

                   Discussion Leader: ___________________________________

 

8 May                   Reprise: “Isn’t It Ironic?”

                   Reading: Niebuhr, The Irony of American History

                                  Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., “Reinhold Niebuhr’s Role in American Political Thought and Life,” from The Politics of Hope, Houghton Mifflin, 1963

 

 

                   Discussion Leader: ___________________________________

 

 

15 May        OPEN DATE