Newsletter

Be sure to read the department's newest newsletter.

Upcoming events

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The Sigur Center for Asian Studies Cordially Invites You To:

Tradition, Treaties & Trade:
Qing Imperialism & Choson Korea, 1850-1910

A New Book By

Kirk Larsen
Korea Foundation Associate Professor of History and International Affairs, Director, Sigur Center for Asian Studies and Director, Asian Studies Program, The Elliott School of International Affairs, The George Washington University

Relations between the Choson and Qing states are often cited as the prime example of the operation of the "traditional" Chinese "tribute system." In contrast, this work contends that the motivations, tactics, and successes (and failures) of the late Qing Empire in Choson Korea mirrored those of other nineteenth-century imperialists. Between 1850 and 1910, the Qing attempted to defend its informal empire in Korea by intervening directly, not only to preserve its geopolitical position but also to promote its commercial interests. And it utilized the technology of empire—treaties, international law, the telegraph, steamships, and gunboats. Although the transformation of Qing-Choson diplomacy was based on modern imperialism, this work argues that it is more accurate to describe the dramatic shift in relations in terms of flexible adaptation by one of the world's major empires in response to new challenges. Moreover, the new modes of Qing imperialism were a hybrid of East Asian and Western mechanisms and institutions. Through these means, the Qing Empire played a fundamental role in Korea's integration into regional and global political and economic systems.

Featuring Commentary By:

Edward McCord
Associate Professor of History & International Affairs, The George Washington University

Copies of the book will be available for sale.

Date: Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Time: 12:30 - 1:45 pm

Place: The Chung-wen Shih Conference Room, The Sigur Center for Asian Studies, Suite 503, 1957 E Street, NW

RSVP: Please RSVP with your name, affiliation, and e-mail to gsigur@gwu.edu by Friday, April 25, 2008.

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The George Washington University Department of History is pleased to announce that the 2008 Elmer L. Kayser lecture will be given by Anthony Grafton, the Henry Putnam University Professor of History at Princeton, on March 6, 2008 at 4 p.m. in the Marvin Center Amphitheater. The lecture is entitled "Doctor Faustus: A Renaissance Magus & His World."

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The George Washington University Department of History is pleased to announce that David Mandell, Associate Professor of History at Truman State University, will present the lecture "Images of Indians and Race in Early America."  The event will be held on Wednesday March 26, from 4-5pm in the seminar room, 328-329 Phillips Hall.

Chair in Modern American Labor History

In July 2007 the International Brotherhood of Teamsters agreed to place its Archives with the Gelman library at The George Washington University on permanent loan. The library plans to collect primary documents, photographs, and recordings from other labor groups with the goal of making George Washington University a center for the study of American labor relations.

(http://www.gwu.edu/gelman/spec/labor.html)

In conjunction with the donation of papers, the Teamsters endowed both a library archivist and a chair in modern American labor history. The rank of the chair will be tenured associate or full professor depending on experience. American labor history is broadly defined and can include not merely labor unions and union leadership, but government relations with unions, the issue of labor in American politics, and the social history or political activity of the rank and file. In order to be considered for the position, an applicant must have published at least one book in one of the areas outlined above and have at least six years of college teaching experience. The appointment will begin in the fall of 2009. 

Nominations or expressions of interest may be sent to Tyler Anbinder, History Department Chairman, at anbinder@gwu.edu, or by mail to Labor History Search Committee, Department of History, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052.

To apply: Please send a statement of research and teaching interests, a C. V., and the names and contact information for three professional references to the same address. Review of applications will begin on October 15, 2008 and continue until the position is filled. Only complete applications will be considered. The George Washington University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Faculty publications, awards, and activities

Gregg Brazinsky’s book Nation Building in South Korea: Koreans, Americans, and the Making of a Democracy has been published by the University of North Carolina Press.

Ronald Spector’s new book In the Ruins of Empire: The Japanese Surrender and the Battle for Postwar Asia has been published by Random House.