Links to Recent Articles of Interest
By Walter Johnson, New York Review of Books, posted May 8
A complex account of the dynamics of the pro-Palestinian encampment that began April 24 at Harvard University and the administration’s response to it. The author teaches African and African American Studies at Harvard.
“Why I’m Not Calling the Police on My Students’ Encampment”
By Michael S. Roth, The New Republic, posted May 7
The president of Wesleyan University explains his balanced response to a pro-Palestinian encampment by students on his campus. Michael Roth is a historian (PhD from Princeton, 1984) who has been president of Wesleyan since 2007.
“The Deep, Tangled Roots of American Illiberalism”
By Steven Hahn, New York Times, posted May 4
Using examples from colonial days to the recent part, this article argues that Donald Trump has tapped an important strain of intolerance and authoritarianism in US history. The author teaches US history at New York University and received the Pulitzer Prize in history in 2004.
“Violence at UCLA: Open Letter to Chancellor Gene Block”
By Vinay Lal, WordPress blog, posted May 3
A critique of the UCLA administration’s response to pro-Palestinian student protests, including a physical attack on an encampment with the tacit support of police officers. The author teaches Indian and Indian American history at UCLA
“Letter to Columbia President Minouche Shafik”
By Robin D. G. Kelley, Boston Review, posted April 29
A critique of the Columbia University administration’s response to student protest over Gaza. “You are keeping no one safe, except for your donors, trustees, and Columbia’s endowment.” The author teaches history at UCLA. He is a former Columbia faculty member and the father of a 2021 Columbia graduate.
“The Week That Shook Columbia”
By Mark Mazower, Financial Times, posted April 27
A reflective personal account of events on the Columbia University campus during April 17-22. The author has taught European history at Columbia since 2004.
By Fran Shor, CounterPunch, posted April 26
A short piece on the moral outrage expressed by campus protests over Gaza. “On one hand, these expressions may not always comport with so-called civility. On the other hand, they are not prepared to remain silent and/or passive in the face of an unfolding genocide. In their adherence to Dr. King’s reference to the “fierce urgency of now,” they are committed, as Dr. King was, to disturbing the peace.” The author is a professor emeritus of history at Wayne State University.
By Ronald Grigor Suny, The Nation, posted April 25
“As an Armenian, I have shared part of the century of Turkish denial. As an American, I share the deep sorrow that comes from knowing that the country in which I was born and have lived is complicit in this horrific crime against humanity, which must unambiguously be condemned as genocide.” The author is a professor emeritus of history at both the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago and wrote a history of the Armenian Genocide, “They Can Live in the Desert but Nowhere Else” (U. of Chicago Press, 2015).
“No President of a Major American University Has Deplored the Destruction of All Gaza Universities”
By Juan Cole, Informed Comment, posted April 24
“About 19 institutions of higher education, including 12 universities, in Gaza served 88,000 students and employed 5200 staff and faculty before October 7, since which time they have all been closed and several have been demolished.” The author teaches Middle East history at the University of Michigan.
“Israel’s ‘Forever War’: The Long History of Managing – Rather than Solving – the Conflict”
By Tom Segev, Foreign Affairs, posted April 23
A long, complex history of Israeli-Palestinian relations since the early twentieth century. The author is an Israeli historian and columnist for Ha’aretz. Among his books is A State at Any Cost – The Life of David Ben-Gurion (2018; English 2019).
“Documenting Six Months of Israeli War Crimes in Gaza”
By Lee Mordechai, Jacobin Magazine, posted April 17
A sweeping, detailed critique of Israeli goals and tactics in the Gaza War. “As I hope to have demonstrated through the evidence above, the situation in Gaza is a horrible catastrophe that continues to unfold daily in front of our eyes.” The author is a senior lecturer in environmental history at Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Thanks to an anonymous reader for flagging some of the articles included above, and to Roger Peace for insightful comments on articles being considered. Suggestions can be sent to jimobrien48@gmail.com.