Sunday, October 19, 2014

Preparing for Historical Debate: Did U.S. policies promulgate and extend the Cold War?

For my Historical Methods class, our instructor has decided to assign students into groups embodying two viewpoints on whether or not U.S. policies promulgated and extended the Cold War or not. I was assigned to the group that asserts that U.S. policies did not promulgate and extend the Cold War. I will admit to at first despairing that I was assigned to the group I was because I believed that U.S. policies absolutely led to and extended the Cold War, my attitude had radically (and delightfully, I might add) changed. Indeed, I have a a great group of other students to work with, and I believe we are off to a great start. Though we have not had a chance to meet up and discuss our debate plan, we have been working diligently, and so far, research seems promising.
My skeptical self before I started research. "I don't know how I feel about this prompt..."
 
The research has not only been promising, but also quite surprising. Without giving away too many details, my research has help illustrate the complexities of the Cold War from not only American but also Russian and British perspectives. One of the most surprising things I have learned is that Americans and Russians were not of one mind, and the changes in American, Russian, and British policies throughout the Cold War reflect this from both a "great man" and a "bottom-up" historical interpretation.
The gears in my head turn as I researched. "Hmmm, that's jolly good stuff. Maybe there's something here..."


Suffice to say, I am very much looking forward to meeting with the other students in my group, and I am even more excited to begin the debate. I believe it will be a fun competition, but I am more excited to arrive at truth. After all, I believe a debate is less about winning an more about arriving at truth. No matter what happens, I think I will leave the debate a few steps closer to truth, and that is enough for me.
BAM! I am changed forever by this research.
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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousOctober 19, 2014 at 7:57 PM

    Although we are in opposing groups, I'm glad to hear research is going well for you. I also really like how you mention in the end about how debates serve as a means of arriving at truth, I've never really thought about debates in that sense before. Sometimes it is good to step aside from that competitive mindset and examine the overall purpose and significance of debates.

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  2. AngelineOctober 19, 2014 at 8:57 PM

    It's nice to see that you're enjoying yourself on the research end! I certainly started out neutral before research, and I'm slowly moving towards my point, myself. Those cartoons are an excellent way to portray the feeling of your beliefs changing! It's certainly how I've felt this weekend. Nice post!

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  3. UnknownOctober 19, 2014 at 9:40 PM

    So excited to meet tomorrow! I have just started my research and already I too am coming up with a very complicated picture both of the outline history (such as Angeline discussed) and on the differing perspectives of Britain, Russia, and America during the Cold War Era, and look forward to our debate which will surely help us all learn more about this important time in recent history, regardless of who wins the debate:)

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  4. UnknownOctober 21, 2014 at 7:19 PM

    This is a really interesting take on the debate, especially with the inclusion of the policies of Britain and the Soviet Union. I love how you also employ different and opposing perspectives of the "bottom-up" and "great man" histories. I love your enthusiasm, Tusa, and I'm ready for a very energetic debate!

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