Category Archives: History of Violence

Religious Intolerance and Violence

Posted on April 2, 2011 by briansandberg

An episode of religious intolerance in the United States — the burning of a copy of the Qur’an — has provoked a new wave of religious violence in Afghanistan. A Florida pastor and his congregation burned a Qur’an recently, outraging … Continue reading →

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

Thinking about Civil Conflict Comparatively

Posted on March 27, 2011 by briansandberg

As the Libyan civil conflict (or revolution if you prefer) continues, observers continue to struggle to make sense of the divisions within Libyan society.  Libyan and North African specialists obviously have much to contribute to analyzing this conflict, but considering … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Conflict, Comparative Revolutions, History of Violence, War, Culture, and Society | Leave a comment

Trude Jacobsen Presentation Tomorrow at NIU

Posted on March 23, 2011 by briansandberg
Posted in Empires and Imperialism, French History, History of Violence, Northern Illinois University, Women and Gender History | Leave a comment

Debtor Prisons in the United States

Posted on March 23, 2011 by briansandberg

Has the United States recreated the debtor prisons of the early modern period? A current United States Supreme Court case questions whether some states’ laws on “deadbeat dads” constitute imprisonment for debt. A NPR story today considers the court case … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Modern Europe, History of Violence | Leave a comment

Bellicose Women: A “Gender Gap” in Policymaking?

Posted on March 20, 2011 by briansandberg

The decision for the United States to go to war in Libya appears to have been made by female policymakers in the Obama administration.  An article in the Christian Science Monitor discerns a “gender gap” in foreign policy formulation in … Continue reading →

Posted in Gender and Warfare, History of Violence, War, Culture, and Society, Warfare in the Early Modern World | 1 Comment

At War in Libya

Posted on March 20, 2011 by briansandberg

The United States has today entered into a new war in Libya.  President Obama’s decision to implement a no-fly zone in Libya entails cruise missile strikes and bombing to dismantle surface-to-air missile emplacements and Libyan ground forces close to Benghazi.  … Continue reading →

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

Revolutionary Waves

Posted on March 19, 2011 by briansandberg

The ongoing Arab protests and revolutionary movements are simultaneously fascinating, inspiring, and confusing. One of my students in HIST 423 French Revolution and Napoleon sent me this great question: “Do you know of a historical, sociological, or political theory that … Continue reading →

Posted in Comparative Revolutions, French Revolution and Napoleon, History in the Media, History of Violence, The Past Alive: Teaching History | Leave a comment

Revisiting the Military-Industrial Complex

Posted on February 27, 2011 by briansandberg

Andrew J. Bacevich has written a brilliant piece on the Military-Industrial Complex, setting Eisenhower’s famous Farewell Address into a broader perspective on “permanent war.” Bacevich, a Professor of History at Boston University, has emerged as one of the most prominent … Continue reading →

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

Should Guns be Allowed on Campuses?

Posted on February 27, 2011 by briansandberg

A number of states are currently debating bills that would allow handguns to be carried on university campuses. Professors and students at universities and colleges across the United States should be concerned about such proposed legislation. The 14 February shootings … Continue reading →

Posted in Education Policy, History of Violence, Northern Illinois University | Leave a comment

Attacks off Somalia and the History of Piracy

Posted on February 26, 2011 by briansandberg

Another piracy attack off the coast of Somalia has resulted in renewed questions about the dynamics of modern piracy and possible approaches to curbing Somalian pirates’ activities.  Some are now advocating aggressive naval and military intervention by the United States … Continue reading →

Posted in History in the Media, History of Violence, Piracy | Leave a comment