International and Global History since World War Two

In this lecture course students examine international and global history from a particular point of view: how have Americans tried to shape the world, and how have they, in turn, been shaped by their encounters? This includes conflict and cooperation with other states in the Cold War, decolonization, and regional crises. But the course also analyzes how non-governmental organizations, cross-border migration, new means of communication, and global markets are transforming the international system as a whole. Each week focuses on a period in post-war history then turns to a broader trend that shaped the contemporary world.

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The Future, as History

This undergraduate seminar explores how people have thought about their future and tried to change it. It examines the philosophical aspects of studying history and the future, and how they are related. It begins with the origins of future thinking in eschatology and millenarian movements, the enlightenment challenge to revelation and religious authority, and fictional accounts of utopia and dystopia. Classic texts and scholarly analyses will illuminate modern approaches to the future, such as socialism, imperialism, and “modernization” theory, and areas where they have had a particular impact, including urban planning, eugenics, and space exploration.

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The End of Empires

This undergraduate seminar will explore a range of perspectives on the encounter between Europe and the “Third World” in the 20th century. It will investigate historical controversies on the nature of imperialism, decolonization, and neo-colonialism through both scholarly works and fictional accounts. After a close study and spirited discussion students offer their own analyses of a particular aspect of decolonization or post-colonial society.

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Approaches to International and Global History

This course introduces graduate students to the issues and conceptual possibilities of approaching history from an international or global perspective. It will survey historiographies and methodologies, including civilizational approaches, comparative histories, and world systems theory.  It will address specific problems, such as how to rethink area divisions rooted in the Cold War and colonial eras, and how to think about periodization on a global scale. It will also emphasize examples of research that provide viable models for graduate research, such as studies on migration, technology, trade, diplomacy, international organizations, and war. The goal is to encourage students to consider research that can illuminate large scale historical processes, engage in comparative and cross-cultural histories, or explore geographically dispersed phenomena such as environmental processes, international politics, transnational networks, borderlands and oceanic regions.

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