http://pilsch.com/img/execution.jpg∞
Causes of Cambodia, pt. 1
Now that you have done some preliminary reading into the facts regarding the Khmer Rouge genocide in Camboda, let's decide on a thesis we'd like to talk about, at length. We will also figure out, from our thesis, how to adequetely introduce our readers to the topic of the Cambodian genocide.
Assignments:
- Read "Winner take all ..."∞ by Robert H. Frank and Philip J. Cook. It is an excellent example of a causal argument. Note the way Frank and Cook reject other possible solutions in the opening paragraphs and then move in to a discussion of many different aspects of their own proposed cause (in other words, you don't have to be locked into a model of paper writing that presents your argument and then discusses counter-argument). That said, do Frank and Cook place too much emphasis on their cause and do they do an adequete job explaining where the "winner-take-all" economy came from? Also, it is important, when analyzing the cause of something that is ongoing (the growing gap between the rich and the poor in this instance) to present where these effects may lead. Try and find where Frank and Cook do this in their arguments and then think about how we can apply this sort of technique (extrapolation) to our own argument about Cambodia.
- Be thinking about what we should say in our argument about Cambodia for class on Wednesday. Come to class with any facts and figures you feel will make an adequete argument.
- Cold War <--
- Communism gone too far.
- Classlessness = Genocide (possibly)
- Paranoia
- No rebuilding in Cambodia (US) The US should always be involved in remaking government. Not successful.
- Clean up your mess
- Trauma yields to extremism.
- May also lead to embitterment
- Why we can't leave Iraq until we have a stable government. Stable government may be culturally dependent. In Cambodia economy based on subsistance.
- US Involvement in Southeast Asia
- Power vacuum
What to put in intro
- USSR vs. USA
- Introduce Communism
- Talk about Cambodia's government
- Death toll
- Describe Khmer Rouge takeover.
- Build up in Cambodia in 1973 half million bombs dropped on Cambodia. Civilian casualties. Angered Khmer fighters more. Pol Pot being introduced in France to Communism
- US involvement in Vietnam moving to US involvement in Cambodia. Military coup against Sihanouk. Lon Nol in power.
- US withdrawal plus bombing creates power vacuum. Dates and times of withdrawal and KR movements in Cambodia.
-
Possible Counterarguments
