Name Tim McPartlin
Department Algonquin H.S. Northboro, MA
Subtitle Modern Tibet
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Tibet 1950 to 1980
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| Flag of Tibet from Tibet.com | Flag of China from the CIA World Factbook |
Students will watch Shadow Circus: The CIA in Tibet to get a sense of the Chinese invasion of Tibet and America's small-scale support for a Tibetan insurgency movement.
This link is to the companion website for the film Shadow Circus
http://www.naatanet.org/shadowcircus/
Through the film and direct instruction, students will understand that America withdrew its support for the Tibetan insurgency movement in an attempt to improve relations with China. America ended its support for the Tibetan insurgency and supported the inclusion of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations in the place of Taiwan. It did this, not because the Cold War was over, but in following the adage that the "enemy of my enemy is my friend." America and China agreed to join forces to oppose the USSR.
Tibet was used as a pawn in the game of world politics. This is reminiscent
of the "Great Game" between Britain and Russia for the control
of Central Asia. For extra credit, students can read about the Great Game
in Rudyard Kipling's novel Kim.
This site was created by Tim McPartlin at the NEH Summer Institute "Cultures and Religions of the Himalayan Region," held at the College of the Holy Cross, Summer 2004