Vietnam, viewed by many as a turning point between old and new approaches to war, raised many questions about the role of superpowers, asymmetrical resources, and counterinsurgencies on the world stage. In this course, we will look at the wars in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Gaza. All of these wars are asymmetrical, but what else do they have in common, and how are they informed by Vietnam? We will discuss how superpowers are central players in these conflicts by way of their supplies and support. In this course, we will examine human ways of evaluating the politics and strategies, particularly what happens when three vectors cannot agree: the public, politicians, and the military.

Instructors: Jeff Rice received an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University then pursued graduate work in African Studies at the University of Edinburgh. He completed a dissertation entitled "Wealth Power and Corruption: A Study of Asante Political Culture." He returned to Northwestern to teach history and political science and became a Weinberg College academic adviser. He is currently an Emeritus Senior Lecturer in political science, specifically West African history, US history of the 60's, Marx & Weber, African politics, military strategy, the politics of famine, and student protest and free speech.

Course dates: Tuesdays, January 28 to March 4, from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM (Eastern)

Course preview (video): https://vimeo.com/951670003

Registration is required to attend, and limited space is available.

Osher Online is a shared program exclusively for members of select Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLIs). This collaboration between the Osher National Resource Center and the School of Professional Studies at Northwestern University presents lecture and discussion-style courses over four academic terms – fall, winter, spring, and summer – yearly. The purpose of Osher Online is to share quality online courses and occasional special community events with local OLLIs.