POL326Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Curtis Lemay, American Exceptionalism, Cuban Missile Crisis

• School: UTSG
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POL326Y1
• Professor: Arnd Jurgensen

Document Summary

U. s. has been a crucial protagonist in international law (geneva conventions, etc. ) and development of international organizations. Notion of american exceptionalism: (cid:862)a(cid:373)eri(cid:272)a(cid:374) k(cid:374)o(cid:449)-ho(cid:449)(cid:863), idea of a(cid:373)eri(cid:272)a(cid:374) te(cid:272)h(cid:374)ologi(cid:272)al superiority (not only technology-but technique) Idea that u. s. can be successful where others have failed. International law/organization: (cid:449)hile i(cid:374) (cid:373)edia told that it"s the po(cid:449)erful (cid:272)ou(cid:374)tries that enforce international law and countries like north korea, iraq-violators of international law. Rests heavily on technological superiority (21st century-taken on a particular form with regards to warfare. Component of international law- avoiding civilian casualties has been problematic (ww1: sparing of civilians not really a policy issue) Ww2: development of civilian-sparing technology (more precise) up to policy-makers. Problem with bottle neck approach to using airpower from pov of international law: targeted industrial facilities (tended to be located in center of cities-close to transportation facilities/workforce and using airpower was not super accurate) Till (cid:272)ould (cid:271)e u(cid:374)derstood as (cid:862)unintentional co(cid:374)se(cid:395)ue(cid:374)(cid:272)es(cid:863) (collateral damage-not a violation of international law)