More than three decades after the withdrawal of American troops from Southeast Asia, the Vietnam War still resonates in political and cultural discourse and still motivates vibrant historical inquiry. The eminent scholars featured in The War That Never Ends present the newest perspectives on the war in Vietnam, from the homefront to Ho Chi Minh City, from the government halls to the hotbeds of activist opposition. The seventeen essays compiled by David L. Anderson and John Ernst examine Vietnamese as well as American experiences of the grueling conflict, breaking new ground on questions relating to gender, religion, ideology, media, and public opinion. The War That Never Ends sheds new light on the evolving historical meanings of the Vietnam War, its enduring influence on current matters of global significance, and its potential to influence American foreign policy, in times of peace and war.
About the Author :
David L. Anderson is professor of history in the Division of Social, Behavioral, and Global Studies at California State University, Monterey Bay, USA, and past president of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations. His publications include The Vietnam War and Shadow on the White House.
John Ernst is professor of history at Morehead State University, USA and the author of Forging a Fateful Alliance.
Review :
"It will stand as both an enduring tribute to an important historian and a significant scholarly contribution in its own right."--Journal of Cold War Studies
A terrific volume. Anderson and Ernst have assembled a stellar cast of contributors to provide fresh perspectives. The result is a stimulating and authoritative set of essays.
--Fredrik Logevall, coauthor of The First Vietnam War: Colonial Conflict and Cold
Brings together a distinguished array of scholars who add immeasurably to our understanding of the longest and most complex war in American history.
--Melvin Small, author of Antiwarriors: The Vietnam War and the Battle for America
Includes the role of women in the North Vietnamese war effort, the impact of Buddhism on the course of the Vietnam War, and the tensions between Marxism and Buddhism that appeared to be missed by American policymakers of the time.
-- "Naval District of Washington Waterline"
Nicely structured, well written, and based on judicious research. . . . A number of essays add significantly to the literature on the Vietnam War.
-- "Journal of Military History"
Rather than focusing on policymaking in Washington, the Cold War, or escalation, the essays in The War that Never Ends provide new insights on the Vietnamese perspective and experiences during the war, the fighting of the war, and protest movements.
-- "Peace & Change"
This collection does an excellent job posing and answering the question of why Vietnam still matters and why it will remain the 'war that never ends.
--Kathryn C. Statler, author of Replacing France: The Origins of American Intervention in Vietnam
What a valuable collection of essays! There is something new to think about in each one. Leading historians approach Vietnam from all angles, with each essay standing independent, yet part of the grand mosaic.
--Lloyd Gardner, coauthor of Iraq and Lessons of Vietnam
While many anthologies have a handful of interested articles and a lot of filler, all of the essays in this work are worthwhile. I think a book on the lessons of the Vietnam War every so often is a good idea, especially one I can recommend like this one.
-- "Journal of American History"
Writings that offer both American and Vietnamese perspectives on the conflict, as well as explore the American antiwar movement and the war's legacy for U.S. foreign policy and military dissent.
-- "Chronicle of Higher Education"
