Here is the propmpt:
Students
will produce a 6-8 page original historical/critical essay based on the foreign
leader travel. Students must begin by exploring (with Dr. Barney’s help, and
the assistance of Marcia Whitehead, if necessary) what they think would be interesting
aspects of their chosen visit to write about—whether a particular leader was of
interest, or the subject of a visit or the context around it was important. Students
must locate several SCHOLARLY sources (we will talk about what this means in
class) that will help detail the historical context around your visit. Students
will build this historical work, around an original THESIS that argues for the
significance of the visit for the themes about power, geography, and
U.S.-foreign relations that we discuss in class. Here are the basic building
blocks and prompts for your paper:
1)
Thesis and So-What
Question: Your
essay should have an argument about why
you think this particular foreign visit functions historically and rhetorically
(we’ll talk more about what that means in class), and especially important, why this event is significant for our
study in class. That means you’re making a thesis about why you think the visit
is important, but you’re also answering the all-important so-what question of
“why should we care”?
2) Context/History Section: One of the most significant pieces of your
essay should be a well-researched and critically written section that details
the historical significance of the visit year in which your Report appears, and
should relate back to your main argument about how it works. Here are the
questions you should consider in this section:
a. What was happening in global history during the year your
visit takes place? What are some of the important contexts surrounding the era
in question? What kinds of issues were at stake in this visit? What kind of
larger, global events might have informed upon what takes place in the visit?
b. Who are the leaders involved? What are their backgrounds and
what are the backgrounds of the nations they lead? What are some of the major
political and social issues happening in the administrations both in the
visiting nation and in the United States?
c. What might this context say about issues of political
ideology and power in the context of the visit?
d. What might this history tell us about the nature of foreign
relations between the United States and your chosen nation?
3)
Conclusion: Relation Back
to Map and Class Themes: Finally, as your conclusion to the essay, be sure to
reiterate your overall argument and tie the context together. Do your best to
tie it back to our class themes, and, most importantly, assess WHY an in-depth
understanding of this particular visit
will help us interpret our overall DSL map better.
Here is what I have so far:
It is very raw so I’m asking that you simplify it and really talk about the visit itself. Please don’t use AI
12/18/23
FYS 100 – The Rhetorical Lives of Maps
Lothar de Maizière’s 1990
Visit to the United States
Upon the conclusion of the data
entry process, we were tasked with finding a foreign leader visit that stood
out to us. Out of thousands of foreign leader visits to the United States, Lothar
de Maizière’s visit in 1990 immediately caught my eye. De Maizière was the last
Prime Minister of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the only leader of
the GDR to ever visit the United States. Beyond that, Lothar de Maizière’s visit
holds historical and rhetorical significance, offering a window into the
complexities of diplomatic relations at the brink of German Reunification, one
of the most tumultuous periods in Germany’s history. By diving deep into this
visit along with its surrounding context, we can better understand the dynamics
of German reunification along with the changing power structures and foreign
relations that marked the post-Cold War era.
While Lothar de Maizière’s visit to
the United States was devoted mostly to unification issues, it also carries a greater
significance on the broad political scale, encapsulating the decline in Soviet
Influence throughout Eastern Europe as well as the end of the Cold War. Witnessing
a country so strongly aligned with the Soviet Union, like the GDR, engage in
diplomatic exchanges with the United States was an extremely rare occurrence. Due
to this fact, we can infer that de Maizière’s visit was result of the nation’s fading
ties with the Soviet Union and a newfound willingness to engage with an opposing
ideology.
To understand the dynamics of the de
Maizière’s visit, we need to first go back to when the GDR was formed at the
end of World War II. Initially, Berlin was divided between four countries: The United
States, Britain, and France controlled the Western sector while the Soviet
Union controlled the Eastern Sector. However, the ideological differences
between the former wartime Allies escalated, leading to the emergence of the
United States and the Soviet Union as opposing superpowers. This ideological
struggle was centered in Germany, leading to its formal split into two
independent nations in 1949: the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and
the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). In 1969, the heightened Cold War
tensions culminated in the construction of the Berlin Wall, dividing East and
West Germany physically and ideologically. The Wall became a symbol of the divisions
between the two opposing ideologies that marked the Cold War era. At this point
in time, the GDR was very strongly aligned with the Soviet Union. Any interaction
between the GDR and the United States at this point would be very unexpected.
The Cold-War period takes us all
the way to the late 1980s, when cold war tensions began to subside. The Soviet appointment
of General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev gave U.S. president Ronald Reagan a
potential partner for negotiations. Both leaders wanted to bury the Cold War,
and throughout the latter half of the decade, several peace treaties were
signed. When George H.W. Bush was elected in 1989, he was skeptical of Soviet
intentions, but after meeting with Gorbachev, he officially buried the hatchet.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the two leaders worked to facilitate
the peaceful reunification of Germany within NATO. Evidently, de Maizière’s
visit comes at a time when the two ideologically opposing forces were warming
up to each other. The new dynamic between the two superpowers created an environment
in which the GDR leader would benefit from U.S. assistance.
With talks about reunification, de Maizière
made the Against the backdrop of major historical events, this visit held
profound implications for global politics and offered insights into the
repercussions of the reunification of German lands. The year 1990 marked a
pivotal shift in world history, signifying the Cold War’s end and the
subsequent dissolution of the Eastern Bloc. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989
carried both hope and anxiety, as the Soviet Union disintegrated, giving rise
to independent nations in Eastern Europe and reshaping global power dynamics.
In this milieu, Maizière’s visit epitomized the sweeping changes in Europe,
necessitating delicate diplomatic efforts to navigate the intricacies of German
reunification and strengthen global alliances post-Cold War (Cazzola, 2018).
At the heart of this transformative
period were key political figures, each grappling with myriad challenges in a
rapidly changing world. Lothar de Maizière, a lawyer thrust into the role of
Prime Minister as East Germany faced its demise, undertook the formidable task
of managing reunification amid financial constraints and political
uncertainties (Barton, 2020). Simultaneously, in the United States, President
George H.W. Bush, with his diplomatic acumen and intelligence expertise, played
a pivotal role in overseeing political transitions between nations. His adept
handling of foreign policy contributed to aligning the United States’ response
with the evolving European landscape. Both nations navigated uncharted
territory, requiring strategic planning and careful diplomatic negotiations.
The socialist system’s collapse in East Germany and its integration into a
unified Germany presented unprecedented challenges, mirrored by the United
States grappling with defining its role post-Cold War and recalibrating its
relations with the reunified Germany.
Lothar de Maizière’s visit to the
United States reverberated with profound effects on political ideologies and
power struggles. The end of the Cold War highlighted the ascendancy of liberal
democracy over communism, culminating in Germany’s reunification and the
broader reunification of Europe (Ellerbrock & Hertwig, 2020). The visit
underscored the transformative shift as democratic ideals and personal rights
triumphed over the rigid regulations of communist bloc countries. The dynamics
of control were shifting, with the United States asserting its dominance as the
leader of free nations. The visit provided an opportunity for both countries to
recalibrate their roles in the emerging world order.
The desire for international
acceptance and support for reunification motivated Germany, while the United
States aimed to assert itself as a strong leader in the post-Cold War era. The
diplomatic exchange between the two nations during this crucial time not only
backed German reunification but also demonstrated the nuanced approach required
to avoid upsetting the delicate balance of power in Europe. The end of the Cold
War prompted a reevaluation of alliances and cooperation, making diplomatic
discourse a critical component of foreign relations. The careful handling of
political changes in a united Germany and the negotiation of promises for freedom
and security showcased the trip’s significance in forging robust connections
between America and Europe. Moreover, it laid the groundwork for collaborative
efforts between Germany and the United States in the years to come, shaping
Germany’s position in the global community and preparing it to tackle the
challenges of a rapidly changing world.
In conclusion, Lothar de Maizière’s
1990 visit to the United States unfolded during a transformative period as the
Cold War concluded, demanding a fresh perspective on the global order. As world
dynamics shifted, political leaders grappled with evolving ideas and power
struggles, influencing foreign relations and contributing to the emergence of a
new global narrative. The visit, far from being a mere episode, stands as a
testament to its enduring importance during a pivotal era, illustrating the
resilience of nations when confronted with significant historical changes.
Against this backdrop, Lothar de
Maizière’s visit stands as a testament to the evolving political landscape. The
GDR’s diplomatic exchange with the ideologically opposed United States was not
just a diplomatic maneuver; it symbolized attempts at dialogue between
ideological adversaries during a period marked by geopolitical hostilities. The
visit becomes a critical episode in unraveling the geopolitical puzzle of the
time, reflecting the decline in Soviet influence throughout Eastern Europe and
the end of the Cold War. Furthermore, it holds a mirror to the broader
political scale, capturing the shifting dynamics that ultimately led to German
reunification and the reshaping of global alliances.