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Christianity and Empire: Unity and Diversity in New Worlds

Fernando Cervantes, J.E. & Lillian Byrne Tipton Distinguished Visiting Professor in Catholic Studies, Department of Religious Studies, UCSB, for Spring 2009 will present a paper exploring the interaction of Christianity among the populations of the New World. His presentation will seek to shed light on what J.H. Elliott once called “the remarkable survival of a […]

Black September and the Question of Palestinian Identity within Jordan

In this talk, Clea Bunch looks at the events of Black September 1970, in which King Hussein of Jordan fought a civil war against Palestinian militant groups. She argues that Jordan constituted a "hidden pillar" of America?s Middle East policy. Only during crises like Black September did the kingdom's essential role become apparent. Washington saw […]

Who determines what becomes history? A witness’s reflections

The renowned historian Arnold Toynbee posed the question whether we, the general public, but also scholars and students of historical events, are correctly informed. This question has concerned George Wittenstein for many decades, as it has a determining influence on "what becomes history". Dr. Wittenstein will discuss the common and disturbing phenomenon of historical facts […]

Catholicism and the Early Modern Imagination

The imagination as a human faculty was subjected to some of the most fascinating explorations in its history during the period from 1430 to 1680. Fernando Cervantes will explore the broad Catholic intellectual background of these debates with particular reference to the work the two greatest literary figures of the age: Miguel de Cervantes and […]

Precipitating Factors and Root Causes of the Sino-Soviet Split

Professor Shen Zhihua is Director of the Center for Cold War Studies at East China Normal University in Shanghai. The event is free and open to the public. A brief reception will follow Prof. Shen's presentation. In this talk, Professor Shen Zhihua discusses the surface and root causes of the Sino-Soviet split. The surface causes […]

History Honors Colloquium

On Friday, May 15, the undergraduates who wrote senior theses this year will present their work at the History Honors Colloquium in HSSB 4020. The students have produced very interesting research and all interested parties are invited to attend some or all of the sessions. The program is as follows: Session I (9:00-10:30): War and […]

Memorial Celebration for Dmitrije Djordjevic

The celebration of Dimitrije's life will take place at Elings Park this Saturday, May 16, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Singleton Pavilion. Dimitrije's wife Nan welcomes his colleagues, friends, and all who wish to remember his contributions to scholarship and to the UCSB History department. Prof. Djordjevic passed away on March 5, 2009. […]

Declarations of Dependence: Labor, Personhood, and Welfare in South Africa and Beyond

JAMES FERGUSON is Chair of the Department of Anthropology, Stanford University South Africa has in recent decades gone through a wrenching transformation from a labor-scarce society to a labor-surplus one. Labor scarcity through most of the 19th and 20th centuries led to forms of social solidarity and social personhood that had significant continuities with the […]

Edward Teller the Communist? American Scientists and the National Security State during the Cold War (4PM in McCune Room; 6th Floor HSSB)

The recent release of the FBI files on Edward Teller has revealed the bureau's suspicion and investigation of the "father" of the American hydrogen bomb as a possible communist. Almost certainly the result of a mistaken identity, the FBI's case on Teller, one of the most outspoken anti-communist Hungarian-American scientists, nevertheless sheds lights on the […]