vietnam

Calling a Spade a Spade: Stanley Karnow, Stanley McChrystal & Vietnam

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary , , ,

Below is a recent exchange on the Vietnam Studies Group (VSG) listserv.  Members include Vietnam scholars and practitioners, current and former diplomats and spooks ("agents or people involved in espionage"), journalists, non-governmental (NGO) organization staff, etc.  Quite a few are overseas Vietnamese (Việt kiều).  Read from the bottom up.  Bernard Kalb, the journalist and former US State Department spokesman during … Continue reading Calling a Spade a Spade: Stanley Karnow, Stanley McChrystal & Vietnam

Winning the Hearts & Minds of Young Vietnamese

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Updates , , , ,

Note:  If you’re an employee of the US State Department, do not pass go, do not collect $200, close this tab immediately.  This post contains a “sensitive” Wikileaks cable that originated in the US Embassy-Hanoi and commentary on the same.  If you read it, you are breaking the law, not to mention disobeying  Madam Secretary.  Please pardon … Continue reading Winning the Hearts & Minds of Young Vietnamese

Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam

Mark A. Ashwill Books, Commentary , , , ,

This post is quite obviously NOT about education or US-Vietnam educational exchange.  It's about history, its impact on the present, and the United States' (in)ability to overcome its past.  The German word that describes this process, Vergangenheitsbewältigung, implies dealing with, learning from, but also overcoming the past.  It's about a horrible truth that Nick Turse tells his fellow citizens and the world about … Continue reading Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam

“In Vietnam, P&G Woos Hearts, Minds, and Schools”

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary , ,

Aside from the title of this 5 July Bloomberg Businessweek article, an unfortunate play on what has been described as a "short-lived campaign by the United States military during the Vietnam War intended to win the popular support of the Vietnamese people," I always have mixed feelings when I read about this type of project.  While it's great that … Continue reading “In Vietnam, P&G Woos Hearts, Minds, and Schools”

International Student Mobility Research Report

Mark A. Ashwill Reports, Research, Updates ,

“…the road ahead for most U.S. institutions of higher education will not be smooth as many institutions grapple with challenges in meeting recruitment goals with limited time and tight budgets.” This report, recently released by World Education Services, provides some useful information about enrollment trends among international students.  One of the key points is that … Continue reading International Student Mobility Research Report

Talking Nationalism, Patriotism and Global Citizenship with US Students in Vietnam

Mark A. Ashwill Books, Events , , , ,

Last month, I was invited by a colleague from Augustana College (Illinois) to meet with a group of her students who were in Vietnam on a short-term study abroad program.  The students had spent five weeks at Augustana, followed by another five weeks in southern, central and northern Vietnam.  The website describes the program as follows:  Vietnam is … Continue reading Talking Nationalism, Patriotism and Global Citizenship with US Students in Vietnam

Winter 2012 Update: Vietnam’s Mixed Messages Sideline Foreign Investors

Mark A. Ashwill Updates , , ,

This winter 2012 update is from Vietnomics, a global sourcing consultancy that links US and Vietnamese investors and companies.  Thanks, Jeff!  Summary Vietnam begins 2012 at a crossroads and needs meaningful reforms to complete the transition to a market economy that it started a generation ago.  At times, the country seems to be moving decisively toward … Continue reading Winter 2012 Update: Vietnam’s Mixed Messages Sideline Foreign Investors

“Younger Generations Drive Latin American and Asian Online Markets”

Mark A. Ashwill Reports, Updates , , ,

Check out this "data gem" from comScore's Data Mine (22.11.11).  Many of the world’s fastest growing online markets are in Latin America and Asia where younger generations are driving digital adoption. A look at which global markets are driven by young Internet populations showed Venezuela having the highest percentage of its total online population age 15 … Continue reading “Younger Generations Drive Latin American and Asian Online Markets”

Study Abroad Opportunities in Vietnam for US Students

Mark A. Ashwill Updates , ,

By Elaine Hirsch, Guest Blogger Vietnam offers a multitude of experiences for U.S. students who want to go off the beaten path.  Most programs range from a few weeks to a semester and involve a variety of fields of academic study.  US students who choose Vietnam as a study abroad destination are members of a rather exclusive … Continue reading Study Abroad Opportunities in Vietnam for US Students