Category Archives: Political Culture

Rachel Maddow on the Importance of History

Posted on April 1, 2013 by briansandberg

Rachel Maddow recently spoke at Stanford University. According to the Stanford Report, “Asked by students what kind of major she looks for in a successful job candidate, Rachel Maddow, the popular television host and best-selling author, did not hesitate in … Continue reading →

Posted in Careers in History, Digital Humanities, Education Policy, History in the Media, Humanities Education, Political Culture, Undergraduate Work in History | Leave a comment

Restoration Work at the château de Versailles

Posted on March 29, 2013 by briansandberg

Louis XIV expanded the château de Versailles in the 1680s, creating a grand palace complex that became the effective administrative capital of France. Louis XIV’s royal state promoted Bourbon dynastic interests and managed the French military from Versailles during the … Continue reading →

Posted in Art History, Early Modern Europe, French History, French Revolution and Napoleon, Museums and Historical Memory, Noble Culture and History of Elites, Political Culture, Warfare in the Early Modern World | Leave a comment

Why Professors Shouldn’t be Armed

Posted on March 25, 2013 by briansandberg

Lucinda Roy, a Virginia Tech professor who met with Seung-Hui Cho prior to his shooting rampage in 2007, argues that university professors should not be armed. Roy asserts that “College professors and K-12 teachers are not law enforcement officers. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Arms Control, History of Violence, Human Rights, Humanities Education, Northern Illinois University, Political Culture | Leave a comment

Habemus Papam

Posted on March 14, 2013 by briansandberg

White smoke billowing from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel today (14 March 2013) indicated that a new pope has been elected: “Habemus Papam!” Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, archbishop of Buenos Aires, has been elected pope and has taken the title … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Conflict, Civilians and Refugees in War, European History, History of Violence, Human Rights, Italian History, Political Culture, Religious History | Leave a comment

Sephardic Jews Invited to Return to Spain

Posted on March 6, 2013 by briansandberg

More than 500 years after the infamous 1492 expulsion of Jews from the kingdom of Spain, the modern Spanish government is preparing to invite Jews to return to the country. “In November [2012],” according to the BBC, “Spain’s justice minister … Continue reading →

Posted in Civilians and Refugees in War, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, Empires and Imperialism, European History, European Union, European Wars of Religion, History of Violence, Human Rights, Mediterranean World, Political Culture, Religious History, Religious Violence, Renaissance Art and History | 1 Comment

Innovation in Italian Politics?

Posted on March 6, 2013 by briansandberg

The recent elections in Italy surprised many Italians and have dumbfounded observers around the world. The center-left coalition led by Luigi Bersani seemed poised to win the elections, but did not come out as a clear winner. The resurgence of Silvio … Continue reading →

Posted in European History, European Union, Italian History, Political Culture | Leave a comment

Drones and Changing Conceptions of Airspace

Posted on March 5, 2013 by briansandberg

Drones have already significantly transformed the conduct of military operations in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other areas. Now, drones are beginning to change conceptions of airspace. Yesterday (4 March 2013), an Alitalia pilot on approach to New York’s JFK airport reported … Continue reading →

Posted in Arms Control, History of Violence, Human Rights, Political Culture, Strategy and International Politics, Terrorism, War, Culture, and Society | Leave a comment

Historians Discuss Papal Resignation

Posted on March 5, 2013 by briansandberg

Historians at the University of California at Santa Barbara are holding a public panel discussion of the papal resignation. Here is the announcement from the UCSB website: UCSB Historians To Examine Pope Benedict XVI’s Resignation Public invited to panel discussion … Continue reading →

Posted in European History, Italian History, Lectures and Seminars, Political Culture, Reformation History, Religious History, Renaissance Art and History | Leave a comment

Procedures for the Papal Conclave

Posted on March 4, 2013 by briansandberg

As cardinals prepare to elect a new pope in the Vatican, observers may want a refresher on the procedures for a papal conclave. The Washington Post reports on the preparations for the upcoming papal conclave and provides the following graphic … Continue reading →

Posted in Early Modern Europe, European History, European Wars of Religion, Italian History, Political Culture, Reformation History, Religious History, Renaissance Art and History | Leave a comment

Sequestration and Cuts in Education

Posted on March 3, 2013 by briansandberg

How will the sequestration affect education in the United States?  Teachers, professors, and administrators are scrambling to assess the fall-out of the major cuts that will be implemented in educational institutions across the United States. Federal spending cuts will directly … Continue reading →

Posted in Education Policy, Humanities Education, Political Culture | Leave a comment