Harold W. Rood
Encyclopedia
Harold W. Rood was a political scientist and author of Kingdoms of the Blind. He was Professor Emeritus at Claremont McKenna College
and taught International Relations
and national security affairs beginning in 1962. Rood was also a fellow at the Claremont Institute and published articles in the Claremont Review of Books
.
He received the Claremont Institute's Salvatori Prize in the American Founding in 2007 and taught in the Claremont Institute's Publius Fellows Program since 1979.
's Third Army in World War II
and took part in the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns. After the war, Rood attended graduate school at the London School of Economics
, Oxford University, and the University of California, Berkeley
where he received his PhD in Political Science. Prior to completing his graduate degree, Rood studied engineering at Stanford University
.
, and other European models to explain how great democracies have resumed the follies that so nearly cost them their life.
said, "Professor Rood is something of a painter of the strategic scene. The combination of what at first appears to be insignificant details, the discovery of a harmonious relationship among seemingly discrete events, is accomplished by him in a manner that would have delighted Churchill the painter no less than Churchill the strategist."
Peter W. Schramm
, a former student, described Rood as a "great teacher" who "he didn't simply grab the truth as it revealed itself in front of him. Rather, he talked and the story came out about how men wanted to live rather than die, and what they may then do, and why that is always so."
Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college and a member of the Claremont Colleges located in Claremont, California. The campus is located east of Downtown Los Angeles...
and taught International Relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
and national security affairs beginning in 1962. Rood was also a fellow at the Claremont Institute and published articles in the Claremont Review of Books
Claremont Review of Books
The Claremont Review of Books is a quarterly review of politics and statesmanship published by the Claremont Institute. Many consider it a conservative intellectual answer to the liberal New York Review of Books...
.
He received the Claremont Institute's Salvatori Prize in the American Founding in 2007 and taught in the Claremont Institute's Publius Fellows Program since 1979.
Early life and education
Rood was an infantryman George S. PattonGeorge S. Patton
George Smith Patton, Jr. was a United States Army officer best known for his leadership while commanding corps and armies as a general during World War II. He was also well known for his eccentricity and controversial outspokenness.Patton was commissioned in the U.S. Army after his graduation from...
's Third Army in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and took part in the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns. After the war, Rood attended graduate school at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, Oxford University, and the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
where he received his PhD in Political Science. Prior to completing his graduate degree, Rood studied engineering at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
.
Kingdoms of the Blind
Published in 1980, Kingdoms of the Blind examines war, the Soviet crackdown in Czechoslovakia in 1968, the Cuban Missile CrisisCuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
, and other European models to explain how great democracies have resumed the follies that so nearly cost them their life.
Commentary on work and teaching
Describing the work of Professor Rood, Harry V. JaffaHarry V. Jaffa
Harry V. Jaffa is Professor Emeritus at Claremont McKenna College and Claremont Graduate University and a distinguished fellow of the Claremont Institute. He has written on Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Winston Churchill, Leo Strauss, American constitutionalism...
said, "Professor Rood is something of a painter of the strategic scene. The combination of what at first appears to be insignificant details, the discovery of a harmonious relationship among seemingly discrete events, is accomplished by him in a manner that would have delighted Churchill the painter no less than Churchill the strategist."
Peter W. Schramm
Peter W. Schramm
Peter W. Schramm is an American academic. He is a Professor of Political Science at Ashland University and the Executive Director of the Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs in Ashland, Ohio.-Early life:...
, a former student, described Rood as a "great teacher" who "he didn't simply grab the truth as it revealed itself in front of him. Rather, he talked and the story came out about how men wanted to live rather than die, and what they may then do, and why that is always so."
Published Works
- Kingdoms of the the Blind
- The Long View: Democracy And Strategy In Iraq
- "Terrorism and the Democratic Constitution" in The New Federalist Papers
- AVOT - Harold Rood on the War in Iraq
- Distant Rampart. United States Naval Institute Proceedings 93:3 (March 1967)