Document Type
Honors Project
Degree Award Date
Spring 2024
Keywords
ethnocentric, ideology, 38th parallel, Korea, United Nations, United States, China
Disciplines
Asian History | Diplomatic History | United States History
Abstract
This paper focuses on the Korean War and the complexities and motivations that shaped the conflict. Initially framed as a defensive effort by the United Nations and the United States to repel North Korean aggression and restore peace, the situation quickly evolved. Military successes led to ambitions of Korean unification, pushing UN forces beyond their initial defensive mandate. Key to this escalation was the US's ethnocentric ideology, underestimating China's military capabilities and dismissing warnings of Chinese intervention. Communication failures within the US government, such as omitting crucial intelligence about Chinese intentions, further fueled escalation. The consequences were devastating, with the war's legacy continuing to influence East Asian geopolitics today. The analysis contrasts US and Chinese historiographies, highlighting how the Korean War remains a pivotal but often overlooked conflict in American memory compared to its significant place in Chinese historical narratives. Overall, the study offers a nuanced understanding of how political motivations, ideological biases, strategic miscalculations, and communication breakdowns intensified and prolonged a conflict initially aimed to restore peace but shaped regional dynamics for decades.
Recommended Citation
Thompson, Alex, "Crossing of the 38th Parallel: The Decision that Changed the Korean War." (2024). Honors Projects. 930.
https://digitalcommons.bridgewater.edu/honors_projects/930