Links to Recent Articles of Interest
By Joseph Gerson, Pressenza, posted January 23
A long, historically rich discussion of “three interrelated crises” involved in the current Ukraine standoff, with suggested steps for negotiated resolution. It includes a helpful ethno-linguistic map of Ukraine. The author is a longtime peace activist who is president of the Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security.
By Andrew Bacevich, TomDispatch.com, posted January 23
On Washington's failure to learn from the disastrous experiences of the “Very Long War” tha began with the sending of US troops to Vietnam and ended with the acknowledgment of defeat in Afghanistan last year. The author is a retired US Army colonel and an emeritus professor of history and international relations at Boston University.
By Stephen M. Walt, Foreign Policy, posted January 19
Details steps taken since the early 1990s that led to the present state of affairs. “Had the United States and its European allies not succumbed to hubris, wishful thinking, and liberal idealism and relied instead on realism's core insights, the present crisis would not have occurred.” The author teaches international relations at Harvard University.
By William Astore, TomDispatch.com, posted January 18
Thoughts on the dangers of a new cold war by a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who has taught at the Naval Academy and now teaches history at the Pennsylvania College of Technology.
“King Was a Critical Race Theorist Before There Was a Name for It”
By Kimberle Williams Crenshaw, Los Angeles Times, posted January 17
“Contrary to countless assertions from the right, King did not endorse colorblindness. It wasn't the remedy for dismantling the ugly realities that white supremacy had produced. Like today's critical race theorists, King understood that American racism was systemic and demanded systemic remedies.” The author teaches at the UCLA School of Law and Columbia Law School and is the director of the African American Policy Forum.
By Alfred McCoy, TomDispatch.com, posted January 16
On the erosion of US hegemony. “Drunk on the heady elixir of limitless global power following the implosion of the Soviet Union in 1991, Washington’s foreign-policy elites made increasingly dubious decisions that led to a rapid decline in their country’s dominance.” The author teaches history at the University of Wisconsin and his most recent book is To Govern the Globe: World Orders and Catastrophic Change (Haymarket Books, 2021).
By Sam Adler-Bell, African American Policy Forum, posted January 13
A lengthy, detailed account of the right-wing campaign, in the interest of historical amnesia, to discredit and censor anti-racist education. The author is a freelance writer and cohost of Dissent magazine's “Know Your Enemy” podcast.
By Walden Bello, Foreign Policy in Focus, posted January 12
“Tolstoy said that all families are unhappy but each of them is unhappy in its own way. The same thing might be said of the end of empires. All empires end, but each exits in its own distinct unhappy fashion.” The author is a professor at the University of the Philippines and a former member of the Philippine House of Representatives.
By Lawrence S. Wittner, antiwar.com, posted January 9
An account of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, adopted at a UN conference in 2017 and now having the formal status of international law after ratification by 86 nations, though opposed by all nine of the current nuclear powers. The author is a professor emeritus of history at SUNY Albany.
By Alan J. Singer, The Daily Kos, posted January 5
Brings together extensive suggestions and resources for all age groups in K-12 education. The author is a historian and director of social studies education at Hofstra University.
Thanks to Rusti Eisenberg, Teresa Meade, and an anonymous reader for flagging articles included in the above list. Suggestions can be sent to jimobrien48@gmail.com. Special thanks to Steve Gosch for valuable consulting.