Advanced Seminar: The United States in Afghanistan: Origins, Developments, Consequences

This course offers a historical examination and analysis of America's involvement in Afghanistan from the Cold War through the present, focusing in particular on the US War in Afghanistan from 2001 onward. Special attention will be given to political, military, diplomatic and economic dynamics as well as to international relationships, the experience of war and the subsequent developments upon both American and Afghani societies. Major topics covered include US covert operations against the Soviets in Afghanistan during the 1980s; revolution, civil war and the rise of the Taliban during the 1990s; 9/11 and the War on Terror; national building and stability measures during the early 2000s and subsequent security threats in the form of an insurgency, warlords, drug gangs, criminal networks and the al-Qaeda alliance of terrorist organizations; the key roles played by Pakistan, India, Iran, Russia, China and Central Asian states; the Obama surge and counterinsurgency operations starting in 2009; the soldier's experience, special forces, and covert operations; prisoners, torture and human rights abuses; the end of NATO's mission in 2014 and subsequent developments: the Ghani government, the return of the Taliban, the arrival of ISIS, the peace process, the U.S. drawdown and the elusive quest for peace and stability in Afghanistan. This is a capstone course open to history majors only. This course fulfills the History major capstone requirement as an Advanced Seminar.
Course Attributes: BU IS; AS HUM; AS LCD; FA SSC; AR SSC; EN H

Advanced Seminar: The United States in Afghanistan: Origins, Developments, Consequences

AMERICAN CULTURE STUDIES 49KK

Section 01