Thu June 14, 2018
World Affairs Council: Diplomatic Lessons from George Marshall's Unfinished War in China
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The Post-WWII era is often thought of as a golden age in American diplomatic relations. Central to this period is General George C. Marshall, architect of the Allied victory in World War II and secretary of state whose Marshall Plan spurred European recovery and checked Soviet expansion at the start of the Cold War. He stands as a towering figure in world history, embodying what many think of as the best of American leadership. However, between the end of World War II and Marshall’s tenure as secretary of state and secretary of defense, he spent a year in China working to broker a peace, build a Chinese democracy, and prevent a Communist takeover. Ultimately, this mission was unsuccessful but it marks a true turning point in history, shaping the course of politics throughout the Cold War and beyond.
While many biographies of Marshall gloss over this point in his life, Dan Kurtz-Phelan‘s new book "The China Mission; George Marshall’s Unfinished War, 1945- 1947" provides a detailed account by examining events which took place, mistakes that were made and the lessons learned while Marshall was in China. His work leads to a fuller and more truthful understanding of Marshall and American power itself.
Join Dan Kurtz-Phelan, executive editor of Foreign Affairs, to discuss the mark that Marshall’s time in China made on foreign relations and how it shaped our understanding of diplomacy. How can these lessons be applied to diplomatic relations today and what may have changed, at a time when many worry about shifting American foreign policies that have traditionally been the backbone of the international world order.
SPEAKER:
Daniel Kurtz-Phelan
Executive Editor, Foreign Affairs
MODERATOR:
Peter Lorentzen
Assistant Professor, Economics, University of San Francisco
show less
While many biographies of Marshall gloss over this point in his life, Dan Kurtz-Phelan‘s new book "The China Mission; George Marshall’s Unfinished War, 1945- 1947" provides a detailed account by examining events which took place, mistakes that were made and the lessons learned while Marshall was in China. His work leads to a fuller and more truthful understanding of Marshall and American power itself.
Join Dan Kurtz-Phelan, executive editor of Foreign Affairs, to discuss the mark that Marshall’s time in China made on foreign relations and how it shaped our understanding of diplomacy. How can these lessons be applied to diplomatic relations today and what may have changed, at a time when many worry about shifting American foreign policies that have traditionally been the backbone of the international world order.
SPEAKER:
Daniel Kurtz-Phelan
Executive Editor, Foreign Affairs
MODERATOR:
Peter Lorentzen
Assistant Professor, Economics, University of San Francisco
The Post-WWII era is often thought of as a golden age in American diplomatic relations. Central to this period is General George C. Marshall, architect of the Allied victory in World War II and secretary of state whose Marshall Plan spurred European recovery and checked Soviet expansion at the start of the Cold War. He stands as a towering figure in world history, embodying what many think of as the best of American leadership. However, between the end of World War II and Marshall’s tenure as secretary of state and secretary of defense, he spent a year in China working to broker a peace, build a Chinese democracy, and prevent a Communist takeover. Ultimately, this mission was unsuccessful but it marks a true turning point in history, shaping the course of politics throughout the Cold War and beyond.
While many biographies of Marshall gloss over this point in his life, Dan Kurtz-Phelan‘s new book "The China Mission; George Marshall’s Unfinished War, 1945- 1947" provides a detailed account by examining events which took place, mistakes that were made and the lessons learned while Marshall was in China. His work leads to a fuller and more truthful understanding of Marshall and American power itself.
Join Dan Kurtz-Phelan, executive editor of Foreign Affairs, to discuss the mark that Marshall’s time in China made on foreign relations and how it shaped our understanding of diplomacy. How can these lessons be applied to diplomatic relations today and what may have changed, at a time when many worry about shifting American foreign policies that have traditionally been the backbone of the international world order.
SPEAKER:
Daniel Kurtz-Phelan
Executive Editor, Foreign Affairs
MODERATOR:
Peter Lorentzen
Assistant Professor, Economics, University of San Francisco
read more
While many biographies of Marshall gloss over this point in his life, Dan Kurtz-Phelan‘s new book "The China Mission; George Marshall’s Unfinished War, 1945- 1947" provides a detailed account by examining events which took place, mistakes that were made and the lessons learned while Marshall was in China. His work leads to a fuller and more truthful understanding of Marshall and American power itself.
Join Dan Kurtz-Phelan, executive editor of Foreign Affairs, to discuss the mark that Marshall’s time in China made on foreign relations and how it shaped our understanding of diplomacy. How can these lessons be applied to diplomatic relations today and what may have changed, at a time when many worry about shifting American foreign policies that have traditionally been the backbone of the international world order.
SPEAKER:
Daniel Kurtz-Phelan
Executive Editor, Foreign Affairs
MODERATOR:
Peter Lorentzen
Assistant Professor, Economics, University of San Francisco
show less
Date/Times:
312 Sutter Street, 2nd Floor , San Francisco, CA 94108
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