Links to Recent Articles of Interest
By Elizabeth Tandy Shermer, Washington Post, posted August 5
Lawmakers in the 1960s “purposefully crafted the Guaranteed Student Loan Program to jump-start a student loan industry.” The author teaches at Loyola University Chicago. Her book Indentured Students: How Government-Guaranteed Loans Left Generations Drowning in College Debt is due later this month from Harvard University Press
By Andrew Bacevich, TomDispatch.com, posted August 5
A capsule history of what the author calls the Indispensable Nation Syndrome, taking the phrase used by then Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in 1998: “If we have to use force, it is because we are America. We are the indispensable nation.” The author is a retired US Army colonel and a professor emeritus of history and international relations at Boston University.
By Julia Gaffield, Washington Post, posted August 4
“Recent media efforts to contextualize the assassination of Haiti’s president, Jovenel Moïse, on July 7 have often relied on myths that undermine the country’s leadership in world history and the racist repercussions that it faced during and after its fight for freedom and independence.” The author
By Alfred McCoy, TomDispatch.com, posted August 1
On the selective memory that has led the US public to claim victimhood in international affairs by ignoring the asymmetrical destruction of US wars since the US-Philippine war at the turn of the 20th century. The author teaches history at the University of Wisconsin and his books include The Violent American Century: War and Terror Since World War II (Dispatch Books, 2017).
By Juan Cole, Informed Comment blog, posted July 30
A short summary of the damage done to Iraq's heritage during the US occupation. The author teaches Middle East history at the University of Michigan.
“How the CIA Helped Ruin Liberia”
By Jeremy Kuzmarov, Covert Action, posted July 30
A detailed, well-illustrated article, covering the period from the 1970s on. The author is a historian who formerly taught at Tulsa University and other schools and is currently editor of Covert Action magazine.
By Alan J. Singer, History News Network, posted July 25
A short article contrasting two nations' histories, with a focus on policies followed by the dominant nearby powers: Britain in the case of Ireland, the US in the case of Haiti. The author is director of social studies education at Hofstra University and was co-director of the New York State Great Irish Famine Curriculum.
By Michael T. Klare, The Nation, posted July 19
A review essay based on two recent books by historians: Margaret McMillan's War: How Conflict Shaped Us (Random House, 2020) and Martin Sherwin's Gambling with Armageddon (Knopf, 2020). The author directs the Five College Program in Peace and World Security, based at Hampshire College.
By Leo Casey, Dissent, posted July 14
“It is time for educators to go on the offensive against the conservative campaign to ban 'critical race theory' from schools.” The author is a longtime teacher of history and civics and an active teacher unionist. He currently works at the American Federation of Teachers.
By Lawrence Glickman, The Atlantic, posted July 20
“The opponents of Reconstruction succeeded in their campaign against racial equality, setting the country on a path to great division and intolerable oppression. Those who traffic in these tropes continue to threaten to defer the promise of justice and democracy—yet again.” The author teaches history at Cornell University.
Thanks to Van Gosse and an anonymous reader for flagging articles included in the above list. Suggestions can be sent to jimobrien48@gmail.com.