Asia after the Second World War 1
History of
Communism in
Asia
Asia after the Second World War
Instructor: Denisa Hilbertova
E-Mail: 430901@mail.muni.cz
KSCB055
Autumn 2015
Time … Room …
Overview
Asian continent had experienced dramatic changes
in the second half of the 20th
century. Those
historical transformations cost lives of millions and
the numbers of bombs used in these conflicts
greatly outnumber the amount of explosives used
in the whole Second World War. All of these
significant historical events had also another
similar aspect except millions of dead; they were
more or less influenced by the U.S. policy as a part
of a long Cold War.
Without no doubt, China became a superpower in
last decades. What was China’ s way from a broken
nation to a superpower? Does China have the right to claim all of its territories, such as Taiwan or Tibet? The Korean
War claimed over 3 million lives and led to the division of Korea, the isolation of China, and the rise of postwar
Japan. In America, it helped push massive military buildup and McCarthyism. It was one of the first battlefields of
the Cold War. The Vietnam War is one of the most spoken conflicts in human history. In Vietnam it is also known as
the ‘war against Americans to save the nation’ and for American politicians this war has become a benchmark for
what not to do in all future U.S. foreign conflicts. Foreign involvement in Asian affairs can turn into unexpected
results. The Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, a regime that had killed more of its own citizens than any other. Pol Pot’ s
political experiment resulted into a Cambodian genocide.
Goals
The course covers the origins, events and consequences of historical milestones in Asian Cold War. The course will
cover China’ s historical events such as China’ s civil war, Mao’ s policy: Great Leap Forward, Cultural Revolution
and the development after Mao’ s death; America’ s painful lesson in Korea; Vietnam conflict and a tragic rule of
Khmer Rouge.
Asia after the Second World War 2
Brief Outline of Lectures
1. Prelude to a disaster – the situation in Asia after the World War II.
• Course introduction
• The U.S. involvement
• Communism in Asia
2. China’s struggle
• The fight for China (Communist Party of China x Kuomintang)
• The rise of Mao Zedong
3. Mao’ s bright vision
• Great Leap Forward – an ‘awesome’ plan
• Cultural Revolution – Kill the traitors!
4. China’ s way to superpower
• China after Mao – Capitalism with Chinese characteristics (Special Economic Zones, social changes,
such as prostitution, women’ s inferiority, minorities, education)
• Is Taiwan independent?
• Taiwanese miracle
5. Korean War: a Divided Nation
• Americas painful lesson
• The role of Soviet and American intervention, China’ s entry into the war
• The trauma of a Korean nation
6. Nothing to Envy: Life of Ordinary People in North Korea
• Kim’s dynasty
• Post-war development
7. Vietnam War: Afraid of the Domino Effect
• French Indochina: The trouble begins
• Cold war comes to the Southeast Asia (The secret war: The CIA in Indochina)
• World’ s response
8. Vietnam War: The Reasons for a Failure of American Policy
• American presidents and Vietnam: Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon
• American withdrawal: Peace with honor?
• Full Metal Jacket/Platoon (movie)
9. Vietnam War: Counting the dead
• Aftermath of the war (Agent Orange,)
• Personal ties (Ho Chi Min, McNamara, Le Duan, Ngo Dinh Diem…)
• Trauma of the war (American soldiers, Vietnam: a disabled nation)
10. The Khmer Rouge: Educated? Wearing glasses? Able to speak foreign languages? Older than 40? You do NOT
deserve to live!
• The Killing fields
Asia after the Second World War 3
Requirements and Evaluation
1. Course attendance - baseline attendance in a course is 75% of classes (3 allowed absences)
2. Class participation accounts for 20% of your grade
3. Term paper
Your grade in the course will be based mainly on the written work I have assigned. You cannot do extra papers
for extra credit. You can improve your grade by participating in class discussion. The best way to pick up extra
points is to argue (constructively) against me in class; If you present a good clear argument that I am wrong
about something, with evidence, then your grade may be boosted even if you do not succeed in convincing me.
I do not emphasize trivial factual details in this course. I will NOT ask you to tell me the date of the Battle of
"Hamburger Hill", or to name the American units that fought in it. There are some facts you need to know, but
they are more important things than dates. On the other hand, I will expect you to get an idea of the sequence of
events, what came first and what came later.
The most important single part of your grade will be the course paper. You can write it on whatever topic you
please, within the limit of the subject matter of this course. The actual text of your paper, not counting title
page, bibliography, maps, and illustrations, should be about ten pages long, typed double-spaced. Longer
papers are acceptable.
When you are trying to decide what sources to use for your term paper, or if you are just curious about
something that has come up in the course, I suggest you consult the bibliography with me. But bear in mind
that, this does not necessarily mean you will actually be able to find a copy of that book, in or near the faculty.
The paper is due … (will be specified at the beginning of semester).
You can have a pretty free choice of topics for this paper, within the limits of the subject matter of this course.
You must write me an email about your paper, and discuss the sources you will be using. It is not enough to say
to me as we are walking out of the classroom one afternoon "Is it OK if I write about the U.S. bombing of the Ho
Chi Minh Trail in Laos?" J
If you bring in a preliminary draft of your paper long enough before the deadline (at least two weeks) so I can
read it and get it back to you in time, with suggestions about how you can improve it, you will then have
adequate time to take advantage of my advice.
Bibliography will be hand out at the beginning of this course.
• Khmer Rouge irony
• Pol Pot
11. The Khmer Rouge
• Consequences of the Khmer Rouge rule
• Movie The Killing Fields
12. Discussion/Overview
• The international relations
• Social changes in Asia
13. Conclusion