- Mao Zedong’s vision of a “Great Leap Forward”, the failure of the eponymous program, and the subsequent “Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution” led to tens of millions of deaths, economic collapse, and social chaos. Explain in detail these two major periods in Chinese history under Mao.
- “It matters not the color of the cat,” said Deng Xiaoping, quoting Confucius, “as long as it catches mice.” Explain in detail what this statement has meant for both China and Vietnam in the years since Mao’s death and the end of the War in Vietnam.
- Describe contemporary Japan in detail in terms of its political system, economic conditions, social conditions, and foreign policy.
- The Korean War and the War in Vietnam had many superficial similarities but also many profound differences, which led to different kinds of wars fought in different ways with different results. Explain.