USIA, U.S. Society and Values, October 1996

U.S. Society & Values

Electronic Journals of the U.S. Information Agency, Vol. 1, No. 15, October 1996

AMERICAN STUDIES AT HOME AND ABROAD

FOCUS

AMERICAN STUDIES IN THE UNITED STATES

In this introductory article, the executive director of the American Studies Association puts the subject in context. He discusses topics including the value of American studies as an academic discipline and community resource, how the field has evolved and met challenges over the decades, and issues confronting American studies today.

By John F. Stephens

TEACHING AMERICAN STUDIES ABROAD: THE EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE

From Germany, the president of the European Association for American Studies examines aspects of American studies, including its history and role in Europe since World War II, why European students are drawn to American studies, and how foreign universities approach the study of the United States.

By Heinz Ickstadt

PERSPECTIVES ON TEACHING AMERICAN STUDIES ABROAD

American studies experts in Latin America, Africa, Eastern Europe, China, and India give their perspectives on teaching.

Prepared by Charlotte Astor and Michael Bandler,
with an Introduction by John F. Stephens

COMMENTARY

TEACHING AMERICAN VALUES AT HOME AND ABROAD

The author, a historian, discusses her experiences teaching in the United States, Russia and India. To teach American values, "I go back to the Declaration of Independence: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness ... all men are created equal."

By Susan Armitage

ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN AMERICAN STUDIES

Ethnic diversity has emerged as a major challenge to U.S. society and to American studies. The author discusses the evolution of diversity as a component of the American studies curriculum, and its effect on how American studies is taught.

By Stephen J. Whitfield

AMERICA AND THE WORLD:
THE CHANGING ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

A specialist in regional and international studies examines the role of area studies in the United States, and the role of American studies overseas. He discusses how U.S. universities approach the study of other areas or regions, and the needs driving the development of area studies programs in the United States and abroad.

By George Eisen

PRE-COLLEGIATE AMERICAN STUDIES

The author has pioneered the teaching of interdisciplinary American studies at the secondary-school level. He describes the program he developed in Iowa City, Iowa.

By Brooke Workman

DEPARTMENTS

BIBLIOGRAPHY
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT ...

This listing of books, articles and Internet sites offers a sampling of current scholarship in American studies in general, and on specific subjects within the discipline.

ARTICLE ALERT

American society and values are reflected in these abstracts of current articles on a range of subjects.

U.S. Society & Values

USIA Electronic Journals

Volume 1, Number 15, October, 1996

USIA's electronic journals, published and transmitted worldwide at two-week intervals, examine major issues facing the United States and the international community, and inform foreign publics about the United States. The journals -- Economic Perspectives, Global Issues, Issues of Democracy, U.S. Foreign Policy Agenda and U.S. Society & Values -- provide analysis, commentary and background information in their thematic areas. French and Spanish language versions appear one week after the English. The opinions expressed in the journals do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Government. Articles may be reproduced and translated outside the United States unless there are specific copyright restrictions cited on the article.
Current or back issues of the journals can be found on the U.S. Information Service (USIS) Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://www.usia.gov/journals/journals.htm. They are available in several electronic formats to facilitate viewing on-line, transferring, downloading and printing.
Comments are welcome at your local USIS office or at the editorial offices

Editor, U..S. Society & Values
Society and Values - I/TSV 301 4th Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20547
United States of America
ejvalues@usia.gov

Publisher..........................Judith S. Siegel Editor.............................William Peters Managing Editor....................Charlotte Astor Associate Editors..................Wayne Hall ..................Guy Olson Contributing Editors...............Carmen Aponte ..................Michael Bandler ..................Helen Sebsow ..................Riley Sever ..................Rosalie Targonski Art Director/Graphic Designer......Thaddeus A. Miskinski, Jr. Graphics Assistant.................Sylvia Scott Internet editor....................Chandley McDonald Reference and Research.............Mary Ann V. Gamble ..................Kathy Spiegel
Editorial Board
Howard Cincotta...Judith S. Siegel...Pamela H. Smith

U.S. Society and Values
USIA Electronic Journals, Vol. 1, No. 15, October 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AMERICAN STUDIES AT HOME AND ABROAD

FOCUS

COMMENTARY

DEPARTMENTS