Abstract
It remains a surprise I have been involved with competitive debate for five decades, a sobering self- reflection. Viewed more charitably, participating in history imparts a certain authority, a wisdom reserved to longevity, even as one’s memory reconstructs. This essay purports to provide a history of the National Debate Tournament for roughly the last 50 years. Doing justice to the historical sweep would be a book-length project, this summary much more modest. The essay is inevitably selective, recounted from a particular point of view. History never allows more. It has been my experience that there are enduring prospects for organizations across time, especially those defined by competition. A historic lens dis-closes how the NDT has changed and what that may suggest for the future. This short history recounts the changes in debate through the lens of three core trends: structure, technology, and doctrine. The aim is to contextualize the NDT’s history as a series of recurrent downsides and opportunities, often inherent in organization’s purpose and function.
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Recommended Citation
Louden, Allan
(2013)
""Permanent Adaptation" - The NDT's Last 50 Years,"
Speaker & Gavel: Vol. 50:
Iss.
2, Article 5.
Available at:
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/speaker-gavel/vol50/iss2/5