Recently Published

A Ten Year Old's Witness to the Liberation of Auschwitz

by Bernice Lerner

Jerzy (George) Ogurek had beaten the odds to survive in Auschwitz for three months when the Red Army arrived to liberate the camp. 50 years later, none of his colleagues at Boston University knew of his ordeal.

For Child Survivors of Auschwitz, "Who Am I" was the Most Difficult Question

by Alwin Meyer

For child survivors of Auschwitz, efforts to reunite them with families after forced separation in the camp often proved to be an ongoing source of pain and confusion.

No Land, No Life: The Structure of Debilitating Black Land Loss in the South

by Annelise Straw

Despite pledges of aid by the Biden administration, access to credit remains an obstacle for African American farmers, who continue to face the loss of land and its attendant financial and emotional losses.

New York State's Lessons on Preventing a Crisis of Judicial Legitimacy

by Bruce W. Dearstyne

Forceful activism amid rapid social change results in legislation shot down by the most powerful court, leading to calls for sweeping court reform. This was New York State in the early 20th century. How the State Court of Appeals weathered this storm holds lessons for SCOTUS today, if the Justices and their critics care to learn from history.

Can Libya's Elections Lead to a Second Chance at Stability and Engagement with the World?

by Luiza Carter

The recent postponement of elections is another hurdle on Libya's path from post-dictatorship chaos toward potential democratic stability. 

What Happens When the "End Times" are Now?

by Martyn Whittock

Evangelical Christianity's enthusiasm for viewing current events as markers of the End Times is nothing new, but those tempted to mockery should nevertheless recognize how politically potent those ideas can be. 

One Term, Two Presidencies: Biden's Prospects under Divided Government

by Michael A. Genovese

If recent patterns prove out, the second half of Biden's term will be marked by executive orders with little prospect of significant legislation. 

One if by Land, Two if by Sea, and Three if by the Capitol Steps

by Elise Lemire

On the first anniversary of the Capitol attack, and the 162nd of Longfellow's poetic canonization of the Boston patriot, Paul Revere's ride remains a contested and protean symbol for a nation in crisis. 

A Walk Around the "Wood that Built London"

by C.J. Schüler

The remnants of the North Wood outside London posed a mystery of cartographical history to the author: how to reconstruct the forest that was timbered to build the metropolis.

Two Unlikely Champions of Fundamentalist Parties Show it's More about Power than Faith

by Donne Levy

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returns to power after embracing religious fundamentalist parties in a coalition. Like his friend Donald Trump, he seems an unlikely leader for a faith-based constituency to embrace. 

The U.S. Can Legally Intervene in the Ukraine Should Russia Invade

by Anthony J. Colangelo

The United States should seek to prevent war between Russian and Ukraine. But if the US intervenes, it's vital that it articulate a rationale that validates and strengthens international law. 

A Passport Tells a Story of a Bygone Time

by Ron Steinman

The author's passport, with its pages added to accommodate the visas accrued through decades of foreign journalism, reflects an era of travel that might never return from the twin threats of COVID and the decline of international trust in the United States. 

It's Time to Confront Special Privilege in Admission to Elite U.S. Colleges

by Lawrence Wittner

Merit-based admission at the nation’s most elite colleges is severely undermined by those colleges' preferential treatment of the children of the 1%. 

Journalism is Under Siege in Hong Kong

by Luwei Rose Luqiu

The Hong Kong government's increasingly confrontational response to critical journalism is a troubling indicator of a willingness to engage in authoritarian restrictions of the press in the name of national security. 

In Critical Ways, the 1918 Flu Remains a Forgotten Pandemic

by George Dehner

The news has made many comparisons between the current pandemic and the 1918 influenza – especially the grim milestones of infections and deaths – but it's clear that lessons about public policy and public health practices based on the failures of the past remain unlearned.

The Theodore Roosevelt Oral History Collection Proves There's More to Learn about TR

by Michael Patrick Cullinane

Seven audio recordings from the 1950s, found at the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace, opened a window into the memories of TR's relatives and contemporaries of his political and social world, showing there's always more to discover about even the most famed figures of history. 

Biden's Virtual Summit Is Only the Beginning of Securing Democracy

by Leon Fink

Biden's virtual "Summit for Democracy" was not without faults, but it made important nods toward the idea that the power, health and security of labor in the global economy is a vital part of functioning democracy. More needs to be done. 

Reflect on Solomon Northup's "A Slave's Christmas"

by Alan J. Singer

Solomon Northup's famed description of being kidnapped from freedom in New York to slavery in Louisiana includes a description of Christmas revelry that shows how the enslaved preserved community and humanity, and a contrast to the yearly reality of fear and labor. 

Veracity or Virality? How Social Media are Transforming History

by Jason Steinhauer

History is a growing content category on social media, but history content going viral has very little to do with its quality or reliability. The author of a new book on history on social media says historians and readers need to understand how political agendas and content algorithms are shaping history on the web. 

While Hanukkah is a Minor Jewish Holiday, The Events it Commemorates Have Lasting World Significance

by Ralph Seliger

Hanukkah is almost unique as a religious holiday in having a very solid basis in historical events; and although the holiday and the conflict it commemorates may seem minor, their impact was enormous for world events in the ensuing centuries.