L. Michael Allsep, Jr.

Ph.D. Student (ABD)
allsep@alumni.unc.edu

Major Field: U.S. History

Other Fields: Military History; Global History; Genocide and Holocaust

Advisor: Richard H. Kohn

Research Interests:

My primary research interest is the relationship between war and society. I take as my guide Trotsky's assertion that, "You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you." My curiosity about this subject has led me to study not only traditional military history, but also related topics such as genocide and fascism. My dissertation looks at the transition of the United States Army from a small, frontier force to the world's most powerful army and a crucial institution in American life. Its focus is on Elihu Root and his role as a bridge between Wall Street elites and military elites. I argue that this alliance created the institutions and ethos of the twentieth-century military establishment.