Category Archives: History of Violence

Five Myths about Osama bin Laden

As people search to define a post-Osama bin Laden world, it is important to take stock of bin Laden’s historical significance in global affairs. Peter Bergen, a national security analyst who once interviewed Osama bin Laden, now offers a timely … Continue reading

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CIA’s Surveillance of Osama bin Laden

New details continue to emerge about the planning and execution of the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. United States government officials have now revealed that an extensive CIA team conducted surveillance of the bin Laden compound … Continue reading

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Assessing Post-Osama Transitions

Policy analysts, political strategists, and scholars continue to assess the significance of the death of Osama bin Laden for international and domestic politics around the world. Michael Lind provides a sober assessment of the probable impact of the death of … Continue reading

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Search for Meaning in a Post-Osama World

People around the world are now reacting to the news of the death of Osama bin Laden, which is being seen as a significant world historical event. The military intelligence and special forces operations that led to bin Laden’s death … Continue reading

Posted in Civil Conflict, Globalization, History of Violence, Religious Violence, Terrorism, War, Culture, and Society | Leave a comment

Osama bin Laden is Dead

President Barack Obama announced a few minutes ago that U.S. forces have killed Osama bin Laden at a compound in Pakistan. The video of President Obama’s speech is available at the Washington Post.  The full text of President Obama’s remarks … Continue reading

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Review of Warrior Pursuits

The first review of Warrior Pursuits: Noble Culture and Civil Conflict in Early Modern France has been published.  Professor Phillip John Usher, of Barnard College, reviews my monograph in Renaissance Quarterly. I am happy that book reviews of Warrior Pursuits … Continue reading

Posted in Current Research, Early Modern Europe, French Wars of Religion, History of Violence, Renaissance Art and History, War, Culture, and Society, Warfare in the Early Modern World | Leave a comment

Afghan War in Film

A new documentary, Where Soldiers Come From, tells the story of a group of young men from Michigan who enlist in the National Guard and serve in the Afghan War.  The film was screened at the South by Southwest (SXSW) … Continue reading

Posted in Empires and Imperialism, History of Violence, War in Film, War, Culture, and Society | Leave a comment

Guns in Film

When did guns become pervasive in film?  Perhaps earlier than you imagine…. This is a shootout scene from The Great Train Robbery (1903). Milos Stehlik, of Facets in Chicago, considered the portrayal of guns in film recently on WBEZ’s Worldview. … Continue reading

Posted in Historical Film, History of Violence, War in Film | Leave a comment

Nuclear Disaster in Japanese Film

Chicago’s Worldview featured a story today on “Nuclear Disaster in Japanese Film,” by Facets film commentator Milos Stehlik.  This piece does not really have any great new revelations, but does provide a nice introduction to nuclear nightmares in postwar Japanese … Continue reading

Posted in Environmental History, History of Violence, War in Film, War, Culture, and Society | Leave a comment

Upcoming Conference on Imperialism

Between Friction and Collaboration: Imperial Elites and Local Powerbrokers Northwestern University, 15-16 April 2011 Northwestern University is hosting an upcoming conference on imperialism, entitled “Between Friction and Collaboration: Imperial Elites and Local Powerbrokers.” Graduate students at Northern Illinois University working … Continue reading

Posted in Conferences, Current Research, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, Empires and Imperialism, European History, History of Violence, Warfare in the Early Modern World | Leave a comment