This course will examine the rise and fall of the Cold War. Our focus will be on four central issues. First, why did America and the Soviet Union become bitter rivals shortly after the defeat of Nazi Germany? Second, which side, if any, was primarily responsible for the length and intensity of the Cold War in Europe? Third, how did the Cold War in Europe lead to events in other areas of the world, such as Cuba and Vietnam? Finally, could the Cold War have been ended long before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989. Political scientists and historians continue to argue vigorously about the answers to all these questions. We will examine both traditional and revisionist explanations of the Cold War, as well as the new findings that have emerged from the partial opening of Soviet and Eastern European archives. The final section of the course will examine how scholarly interpretations of the Cold War continue to influence how policymakers approach contemporary issues in American foreign policy. Format: lecture/discussion. Requirements: one medium length paper, an in-class midterm and final exam, and a series of short assignments. No prerequisites. Political Science 202 is recommended, but not required. Enrollment limit: 39. International Relations Subfield