COLD-WAR PARADIGMS AND THE POST-COLD-WAR HIGH-SCHOOL HISTORY CURRICULUM

This article is a discussion of how ideological paradigms shaped durin g the Cold War might be adapted in high schools to explore critically the roles played by the United States in world affairs during the last hall century. The author focuses on two specific paradigms, represent ed respectively by the work of Paul Gagnon and Noam Chomsky. Whereas G agnon asserts that examination of flaws in American foreign and milita ry policies must be tempered by recognition of the legitimate national security concerns pf policymakers and the difficult dilemmas they fac e, Chomsky argues that the rela objective of American policies has bee n geopolitical dominance and that the methods used to realize that obj ective have been ruthless. The author concludes with the argument that allowing students to stand outside of both paradigms and explore them In light of historical evidence will help them to develope a meaningf ul perspective on the roles played by the U.S. during the Cold War.