Military Force and U.S. Foreign Policy Since 1945

Martin Clemis, Command and General Staff College

This course examines the idea that the practice of war and the making of peace have been intimately linked to the nature of American society. From Cold War competition with the Soviet Union to the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the “how, who, when, where, and why” America fights has been directly related to our national culture, our values, and other social, political, and economic characteristics. The course will use both theoretical approaches and historical case studies to explore how this linkage of war, peace, and society has played out over the past six decades of American history. Although its primary mediums are military and diplomatic history, students will be exposed to and engage in other basic elements of social science methodologies, including political science, sociology, and anthropology.