Political science:
1. What is the relationship between the argument laid out in Kennan’s “Sources of Soviet Conduct” (assigned for Lecture. The Cold War [Oct. 2]) and the “domino theory” that would eventually propel the United States into the Vietnam War? Was the U.S. effort in Vietnam a sensible attempt to follow Kennan’s policy prescriptions? Discuss Slater to answer this question.
2. How and why is 1968 the turning point of the Vietnam War? Discuss Herring to answer this question.
3. What are the main points of disagreement between Pollack and Mearsheimer/Walt? To what extent are they relying on different theories, different evidence, or simply different opinions (beliefs)? Holding aside what you now know about the Iraq War (that is, trying to put yourself in the position of authors writing before the war), which argument do you find more convincing, and why?
4. Watch the documentary film, “Buying the War” (available at the Fondren Library Center AV Collection: call number IDD03283; also available at: https://vimeo.com/33033186), and evaluate the following statement: “The United States is hampered in its foreign policy by the fact that its leaders must be responsive to a public that has no understanding of the realities of international politics. Public opinion constrains America from using military force effectively when it is in our interest |?3go so. And public opinion compels our leaders to use military force where we have no interests at stake. America’s foreign policy failures are thus due to the ignorance and inattentiveness of its people.” Do you agree or disagree? How does public opinion influence the decision-making processes and outcomes in the Iraq War?