soc

Seeking Refuge from Utopia:

Communism, Nationalism, and Early Vietnamese Immigration to the United States

 

What makes for an ideal political world and society? How does radical socialism intend to punish or scare straight the self-interested actor who has been corrupted by capitalism and Western imperialism? Why is nationalism a compelling force in facilitating political change? How did these narratives lead to mass persecutions? This course will uncover answers to these questions by explaining the political ascendance, division, and reunification of Vietnam. The course will also analyze the waves of Vietnamese immigration to the United States, from the Fall of Saigon evacuees to the “boat people” to the Amerasians to the Comprehensive Plan of Action for “bona fide” refugees, while providing insights into international, national, and local responses to and coordination of mass migrations caused by political upheaval. This course will also investigate the struggles of Vietnamese immigrant acculturation in the United States, among those who arrived here between the 1970s to 1990s, given the circumstances that facilitated their arrival.

Upon completion of this course, successful students will be able to:

+understand how nationalism, socialism, and communism played a significant role in the political ascension of Ho Chi Minh, the end of French colonialism in Vietnam, and the eventual reunification of Vietnam under a pro-communist authoritarian state

+understand how domestic and foreign politics of the Cold War era determined which political alliances would form and influenced how North and South Vietnam would be governed in the 20th century

+know more about a specific case study of refugee migration to the United States, and the American government’s changing position on the reception of refuges for permanent resettlement in the United States

+recognize the international political and economic challenges of temporarily housing and permanently relocating Vietnamese refugees affected by civil war or subsequent persecution by the communist Vietnamese government

+understand the context of immigration and permanent resettlement of Vietnamese in the United States prior to the normalization of diplomatic relations between both countries in 1995

+identify the recent or ongoing struggles of ethnic Vietnamese in the United States and realize that Asian America is not a homogeneous community

+identify and gather information from credible primary and secondary sources about a research topic of the student’s choosing, that is related to themes presented this course

+recognize assumptions and devise basic research designs, test questions, arguments, and hypotheses with qualitative and/or quantitative methods

+compose a substantial written work that explains and analyzes various qualitative and quantitative data as the result of a research inquiry initiated by the student

READING LIST:

There are three textbooks that will be used for this class. The first two books are classics in the political science literature and will provide students with theoretical and conceptual frameworks for understanding the causes of the Second Indochina War and the political vision of the Hanoi government in North Vietnam (between 1954 and 1975) and in a reunified Vietnam (since 1975). The third book provides more of a historical overview of the Second Indochina War, the mass exodus of South Vietnamese after the Fall of Saigon, international attempts to temporarily shelter and permanently relocate these emigrants, and the various waves of early Vietnamese immigration to the United States.

However, if the acquisition of these books would be a financial burden for you, then you may opt to continue with the course without the use of these textbooks (the decision is yours).

Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

Nations and Nationalism by Ernest Gellner

The Vietnamese American 1.5 Generation: Stories of War, Revolution, Flight, and New Beginnings by Sucheng Chan

GRADING:

Your course grade will be based on a free response assignment (due on Thursday evening of Week 2), an approved research proposal (drafts due on Week 3), three bi-weekly check-in assignments (due on Friday evenings from Week 6 to Week 10), and the subsequent research paper.

1:FREE RESPONSE ASSIGNMENT

2:RESEARCH PROPOSAL

3:CHECK-IN ASSIGNMENTS

4:RESEARCH PAPER

1:ABOUT THE FREE RESPONSE ASSIGNMENT

must write a prose response to the following question:

Identify two traits you believe that all members of a good government must exhibit. Explain how each trait helps the government (overall) promote the interests of society, do the right things, and do them well.

Assignments must be at least one page long, double-spaced, 12-point font, with one-inch margins.

2&3:ABOUT THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL, RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS PAPER, AND CHECK-IN ASSIGNMENTS

First, you will need to submit a research proposal (about three pages long) on a topic related to the course. Acceptable research topics may include issues relating to political ideologies, civil wars, international relations, refugee policy, or immigrant acculturation. In your proposal, you need to specify what the topic is about (what is your research question?), why the topic is important (i.e. why should people know more about it), and how you plan to find answers your research question (i.e. annotated bibliography with at least five sources). If your initial proposal is accepted, no further action is necessary, and you can proceed with your research project.

4:RESEARCH PAPER

you will need to submit your completed research paper. The text portion of your paper should be at least 20 pages in length, double-spaced, with one-inch margins and 12-point font. You have the option of which writing format (i.e., MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.) to use for in-text citations and the selected reference page.

1:Free Response Assignment Deadline: October 10th

2:Research Proposal Initial Draft Deadline: October 13th

Research Proposal Revised Draft Deadline (if applicable): October 17th

3:Check-In Assignments Deadlines: November 8th, November 22nd, December 6th

4:RESEARCH PAPER Deadlines: December 6th