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1/ Final thoughts the Global #ColdWar after teaching it for the first time this semester and fielding student feedback. Some of this might be commonsensical to specialists but are new to me as a legal and economic historian of China. 
2/ There are undoubtedly many ways to teach the #ColdWar. Most syllabi on @SHAFRhistorians and elsewhere tend to focus on US foreign relations or US and the world. But more are adopting new perspectives de-centering US-USSR rivalry and elite diplomacy. bit.ly/2K2P4Bd
3/ My own approach was inspired by Arne Westad’s point that the #ColdWar was waged primarily in Third World and far from cold. Unable or unwilling to wage war directly, superpowers and their allies confronted each other indirectly around the globe. bit.ly/2K63uR8
4/ Hence I consulted diverse research outside of my geographical and subject specialty. Though unable to read or assign everything, I still came away especially impressed by recent works in multi-archival diplomatic history on the #ColdWar and #ColdWarHist.
5/ I highly recommend THE CAMBRIDGE HISTORY OF THE COLD WAR. Students and non-specialists like myself appreciated bite-sized chapters and bibliographical essays by preeminent scholars. Very accessible overviews on diverse topics. bit.ly/2K3SKCQ
6/ Students and I also enjoyed readings that moved away from exclusive focus on high-level politics or diplomacy. @MichaelSzonyi COLD WAR ISLAND was especially good in exploring “geopoliticization” or how #ColdWar geopolitics shaped everyday life. bit.ly/2K6eRbN
7/ Another favorite was Kate Brown’s PLUTOPIA. Besides showing how #ColdWar adversaries shared surprising similarities, it also raised disturbing questions about national security, environmental degradation, and public health. Chilling! bit.ly/2K3IwlL
8/ Surveying #ColdWarHist also provided novel perspectives on classic topics. Works by Chen, Lüthi, Friedman, Radchenko, etc opened my eyes to importance of Sino-Soviet Split in Chinese history and global dimensions of bilateral fallout. bit.ly/2MxXMcN
9/ Although I did not consult it this semester, THE CAMBRIDGE HISTORY OF COMMUNISM looks like a very helpful resource for #ColdWarHist. More information available in AHR review by my colleague Jeffrey Burds. doi.org/10.1093/ahr/rh…
10/ #ColdWar also great to teach due to plethora of primary sources. Students scoured @NSArchive to write interesting final papers on different facets of #ColdWar: politics of ice hockey, militarization of space, foreign interventions in Afghanistan, etc. nsarchive.gwu.edu
11/ Student interest in #ColdWar history seems very strong. Though born in late 90s or early 00s they instinctively know #ColdWar was important. Most gratifying was seeing how they connected #ColdWarHist with the state of the world today. bit.ly/2K3RSxM
12/ I hope to teach the course again but would like to revamp the syllabus. I may assign COLD WAR’S KILLING FIELDS among others that balance overview with personal stories. Any suggestions would be appreciated! bit.ly/2Mzo3Ye
