Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
The Vietnam War: Lessons Learned
Speaker
Professor Pierre Asselin
Coordinator
Steve Clarey
This presentation examines the American military intervention in Vietnam, focusing on its strategic, political, and social dimensions. It explores the challenges faced by U.S. forces and leaders, including guerrilla warfare, public opinion, and geopolitical constraints. By evaluating the successes and failures, the presentation identifies enduring lessons about modern warfare, such as the limits of American military power, the importance of local context, and the complex relationship between military objectives and political outcomes.
Speaker Bio
Presenter: Pierre Asselin is the Dwight E. Stanford Chair in American foreign relations at San Diego State University. His area of expertise is the history of American foreign relations, with a focus on East and Southeast Asia. Widely published, his most recent book is Vietnam’s American War: A History. He holds an MA from the University of Toronto and a PhD from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
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