HYM4460

The Vietnam War

Jane Drakard

12 points
* 3 hours per week
* First semester
* Clayton

Objectives Students completing this course should have developed a knowledge of the historical development of the Vietnam war, an understanding of the broader ideological, political and cultural context in which the war took place and an appreciation of the impact of the war in Vietnam, Cambodia, the US and Australia. Later year students will be expected to achieve a more sophisticated understanding of the conceptual issues involved, including representaions of the conflict in specific cultural contexts.

Synopsis The Vietnam War was one of the major events in the twentieth century history which had a profound impact both in Asia and the west. This subject will trace the origins of the war in resisitance to French colonialism after 1945 and examine deepening US involvement analysing the motivations of the main participants. The subject will focus not just on the military phases of the war, but also on its cultural and ideological ramifications in Vietnam, the US and Australia. Lectures and video presentations will be used to provide general framework with tutorials focusing on more specific issues such as contrasting styles of warfare, cold war ideology, the role of the media, anti-war protest, POW and veteran issues and approaches to commemoration and rememberance in Vietnam, the US and Australia. The wider ramifications of the war in Southeast Asia, especially in Cambodia, will also be studied. Music, film and literature will be used as teaching aids and several important archives are available for use in essays.

Assessment Document/book review (1000 words): 15%
* Tutorial essay (2000 words): 25%
* Research essay (6000 words): 60%

Recommended texts

Buttinger J Vietnam: A dragon embattled
Becker E When the war was over Simon and Schuster
Chandler DP A history of Cambodia Westview
Chandler DP and others Pol Pot plans the future Yale U/SEAP
Herring G America's longest war Wiley
Rowley K and Evans G Red brotherhood at war Verso
Gettleman ME Vietnam: History, documents, and opinions
Young MB The Vietnam Wars 1946-1990 Harper Collins