Education:
Ph.D., University of Washington

Expertise:
History of US-Russian and Sino-Russian relations

Background:
Professor Thornton received his B.A. from Colgate (1961) in Russian and Far Eastern Affairs and his Ph.D. in history from the University of Washington, with emphasis on the modern histories of the United States, Russia, China, and Japan. He has taught at GW since 1967. Currently Thornton offers undergraduate and graduate courses on: American foreign policy since World War II, Twentieth-Century China, and Sino-Soviet relations.

His major works include: The Reagan Revolution, I: The Politics of U.S. Foreign Policy (2003); Odd Man Out: Truman, Stalin, Mao and the Origins of the Korean War (2000); The Falklands Sting: Reagan, Thatcher, and Argentina's Bomb (1998); The Carter Years: Toward A New World Order (1991); The Nixon-Kissinger Years: Restructuring American Foreign Policy (2001); and China: A Political History (1982).

Courses Taught:
Hist 137 History of American Foreign Policy (WW II to 1975)
Hist 138 History of American Foreign Policy (1975 to "New World Order")
Hist 188 History of Chinese Communism
Hist 253 Seminar: Sino-Soviet Relations, 1917-1949
Hist 254 Seminar: Sino-Soviet Relations, 1950-present
Hist 255 Readings Seminar: History of U.S-Sov Relations, 1945-1965
Hist 256 Readings Seminar: U.S.-Soviet Strategic Relations 1968-88
Hist 259 Seminar: Problems in U.S.-Soviet-Chinese Relations
Hist 260 Seminar: Problems in U.S.-Soviet-Chinese Relations
Hist 280 Seminar: Problems in U.S.-Soviet-Chinese Relations

Last update: 3/22/2005