Asian Languages & Civilization 102 - WWII in Asia

(Offered as HIST 102 [AS] and ASLC 102) Arguably beginning with the Manchurian Incident in 1931 and ending with Japan's surrender to the Allies in 1945, the Second World War lasted longer in Asia than anywhere else.  Yet, histories of the global conflict still tend to focus disproportionately on the European theater.  Countering that tendency, this course surveys the Asian theater, asking and answering a number of questions: How did imperialism and the rise of nationalist movements precipitate total war in Asia?  What was the character of the warfare and how did it transform politics and societies in Asia?  How did the war alter the geopolitical configuration of Asia and give rise to the Cold War?  What are the continuing legacies of the war in the region today? While we will use Japan as a fulcrum to engage these questions, the course will attend to the regional dynamics of World War II in Asia.   Classes will combine lectures, group work, and discussions.  There will be a mid-term, final exam and three topical essays. Three class meetings per week.

Fall semester. Professor Maxey.