The Legacy of the Bush-Cheney Years: Trends That May Linger

Chronicle of Higher Education by Karen J. Winkler | Jan. 4, 2009 (News Analysis)

New York — For the last eight years, progressive historians have been vocally critical of the Bush-Cheney administration’s war in Iraq, war on terror, stress on free markets, and push to privatize government services like charter schools and social-welfare programs. But at the annual meeting of the American Historical Association here, the collective judgment seems to be that those trends haven’t been all that new — and won’t be easy to ... Full Story »

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4.0

by Marsha Iverson - Jan. 4, 2009

Valuable discussion of both the long-term changes in American ideology and social beliefs, and the dilemma of historians: to record and analyze, or advocate for change.

We have only begun to see the social and political consequences of global dominance by the wealthy and powerful, and the impact of--and implications for--US foreign policy. The story is familiar: the "haves" vs the "have nots," but the scope has grown, playing out now on a global scale. Historians can be uniquely suited to help politicians understand the impacts and consequences of social, economic, financial and foreign policies...but how likely are we to listen? If, as Winkler ... More »

“Much of my work as a historian has had to do with ideology and its role in shaping lives and policy,” said Alice Kessler-Harris, a professor of history at Columbia ... More »

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3.9

by Kristin Gorski - Jan. 5, 2009

A unique take from a group of progressive historians on the impact of Bush's presidency. The article summarizes comments made at the annual AHA meeting, so all speakers are featured briefly; however, historians' knowledge is key to understanding what may lie ahead, so a more in-depth piece would be beneficial and interesting to read. Original and relevant.

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