Diane Labrosse’s Post

New H-Diplo Review of Ron Eyerman, Todd Madigan, and Magnus Ring's _Vietnam: A War, Not a Country_. https://lnkd.in/ebf3Jvzm Review by Y Thien Nguyen, California State University, Dominguez Hills _Vietnam: A War, Not a Country_ by Ron Eyerman, Todd Madigan, and Magnus Ring is an ambitious work which seeks to comprehensively and systematically examine the cultural trauma and memory discourses of what the authors call the “American-Vietnamese War.” Building on the contemporary sociological works of Jeffery Alexander, Jeffrey Olick, and Eviatar Zerubavel, as well as classic sociological studies by Maurice Halbwachs, Karl Manheim, Pierre Nora, the three authors of this volume contribute the concept of “arenas of memory” to the scholarship on collective memory. Adapting Nora’s concept of lieux de memoire, the authors emphasize the social and discursive spaces within which memory narratives are articulated, circulated, and contested. A sophisticated analytical tool, “arenas of memory” is deployed by the authors as a “heuristic device…[which] demarcate[s] the social spaces where different narratives of collective memory interact” (24). Addressing the cultural trauma of one of the most controversial and contested military conflict in recent history, the chapters, which are written by the individual authors, rightly emphasize the conflicting and politicized nature of memory and how different social actors and groups organize and mobilize to advance particular interpretations and claims regarding the meaning and significance of the war. Extensive in scope and design, the book centers on the three main belligerents of the conflict, namely the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV or North Vietnam during the war years, subsequently the Socialist Republic of Vietnam), the United States, and the Republic of Vietnam (RVN or South Vietnam during the war years, subsequently Vietnamese Americans).

Just published this roundtable on Jessica Chapman's "Remaking the World: Decolonization and the Cold War_. https://lnkd.in/ezxE2euP Introduction by Robert Steele, Austrian Academy of Sciences; reviews by Gregory A. Daddis, San Diego State University, Ruodi Duan, Haverford College, Ryan Irwin, University at Albany, Mitchell Lerner, The Ohio State University, Mattie C. Webb, Yale University; response by Jessica Chapman, Williams College. "In correcting the Eurocentric nature of earlier Cold War scholarship, modern Cold War historiography, particularly since the publication of Odd Arne Westad’s _The Global Cold War_ in 2005, has 'helped forge a rare scholarly consensus,' in Robert McMahon’s words, 'that the Cold War constituted a truly global contest, in which the Third World served as a critical theatre, and that it was an event in which non-Western actors assumed a large and substantive role.' As these global histories are uncovered, we are coming to understand that leaders such as Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran, Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire, and sundry others were not merely pliant tools of the imperial powers, but were, in the words of Roham Alvandi, 'active agents of history who often abetted and manipulated the superpowers in the pursuit of their own local ambitions and interests.' The Cold War coincided with other developments that caused profound global change. In the decades following the Second World War, dozens of countries around the world achieved independence from colonial rule and became full-fledged sovereign members of the international community. Between 1945 and 1970, member nations of the United Nations increased from 51 to 127, and the organization became a forum in which newly independent states could argue for the continuation of decolonization and recognition of national rights. Across the Global South, local communities struggled to break free from the chains of imperial bondage that had tied them politically to global Western powers.[5] But decolonization was not, as Cyrus Schayegh and Yoav Di-Capua note, 'simply the negotiation and management of the transfer of state power (‘changing the flag’), central to classic histories of empire,' but rather 'a complex multiphase process…[and] one of a handful of macrohistorical processes shaping the world as a whole'..."

New review by Pavol Jakubec of Sławomir Łukasiewicz's “A Shadow Party System: The Political Activities of Cold War Polish Exiles.” _Journal of Cold War Studies_ 25:1 (Winter 2023): 46-74. https://lnkd.in/edqB-wPK "A politico-legal institution and social condition, exile has roots in the two traditions molding Western civilization, the biblical and the classical. Yet, exile of political parties, i.e., of groups with a reasonably coherent political program and institutionalized internal organization, is a twentieth- century phenomenon. One may even dare to observe that it became undeniably palatable only in the Cold War landscape, and mostly in Europe where the division that became a fact by the late 1940s produced a cohort of Central and Eastern European exiles. Among them the Poles were the most populous, and, with their Second World War origins, also the most “senior” group in the temporal sense. Sławomir Łukasiewicz argues that historians and political scientists have been neglecting parties-in-exile in their studies of the Cold War social and political behavior. He is right, especially as regards scholarship aspiring to international reception. Unlike the portraits of leaders or exile movements in the broader sense, discussions of party politics do not abound on the national level either, even if they are not completely absent. Thus, for example, Łukasiewicz was able to utilize research coming from other Polish scholars. If there seems to be some recent interest in parties-in-exile, it tends to be channeled towards case studies,[with limited interest in more general, theoretical issues of party politics. There is one notable exception: the work of the Israeli political scientist Yossi Shain.

This comprehensive encyclopedia is edited by the acclaimed historian Richard Hall and covers the general topic of war in the Balkans during the past two centuries. Some 60 leading scholars contributed well-examined snippets on the war in the Balkans culminating in a volume that is an excellent reference for a wide range of curious researchers. Richard C. Hall's timely encyclopedia can help reporters and scholars investigate beyond a headline. The book features informative and expertly written essays with suggestions for further reading. As a leading scholar of Balkan history, Hall, Professor of History at Georgia Southwestern State University who has written multiple books on this topic, is an ideal editor for a work of such monumental scope ranging from the fall of the Ottoman Empire to the dissolution of Yugoslavia and beyond. To produce nearly 240 entries covering 200 years requires assembling a team of researchers, which is precisely what this work achieved. Altogether, 62 expert contributors wrote entries spanning five categories: Events, Individuals, Organizations, Places, and Treaties. The most impressive category of contributions is “Events," with 132 topics compromising 56% of all entries. Each war in the Balkans has many entries, and the encyclopedia dedicates five entries to the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913 alone. For these wars, there are separate “Causes” and “Consequences” essays that carefully consider the complex, intertwined factors leading to and resulting from the various Balkan conflicts. The "Events" category contains interesting and rather specific topics not commonly found elsewhere, such as a focus on the “Cold War in the Balkans” and “Ottoman Counterinsurgency Operations in the Balkans and Crete.” The scope of this category is so wide-ranging that it even includes entries covering the roles of Italy and Germany in the Balkans during the two World Wars. The second category, “Individuals," is smaller, compromising only 24% of the total entries. This section includes an impressive array of people ranging from Ottoman Sultans to modern military leaders and politicians. Nonetheless, with only 56 entries on protagonists of Balkan conflicts, there is a little room for expansion and more coverage, especially with Greek leaders. For instance, figures such as Theodoros Kolokotronis and George Papadopoulos could have been fitting additions to the book's theme. Regardless, most major Balkan individuals are present with each entry on them following the customary high quality. The remaining three categories — "Organizations," "Places," and "Treaties" — are understandably shorter in length. The category “Organizations” has 32 entries covering 14% of the total contributions. Topics such as the Balkan League, Black Hand, Kosovo Liberation Army, and UNPROFOR were not surprising inclusions. Yet, more concise topics like “Partisans in Albania” or “NATO in the Balkans” were surprising inclusions in a work of this kind. Once more, Greek topic

New H-Diplo Roundtable on Marc J. Selverstone's _The Kennedy Withdrawal: Camelot and the American Commitment to Vietnam_. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2022. https://lnkd.in/eF8SxBce Introduction by Andrew Preston, Cambridge University; reviews by David L. Anderson, California State University, Monterey Bay, emeritus, Robert K. Brigham, Vassar College,  Sarah-Jane Corke, University of New Brunswick, Yuen Foong Khong, National University of Singapore, and Sean J. McLaughlin, Murray State University; author's response by Marc J. Selverstone, Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia. From the introduction: "It is the most irresistible 'what if?' in modern history. What would President John F. Kennedy have done in Vietnam had he not been assassinated in November 1963? To war or not to war—for many historians, that is the question. The reason historians are still drawn to it is not just because of Kennedy’s enduring allure, but because of the near-perfect laboratory conditions for a proper counterfactual: the sudden removal of only one major participant (Ngo Dinh Diem also made an abrupt departure, but that was before Kennedy did); the availability of massive amounts of primary-source evidence; a suggestion that Kennedy was mulling over a military withdrawal; and an impending decision on whether to continue escalating in Vietnam or reconsider the whole thing entirely. Little wonder that scholars find “the Kennedy counterfactual” so tantalizing. It is the greatest testament to Marc Selverstone’s great book that he simultaneously provides the most authoritative answer yet to the Kennedy counterfactual while largely resisting its siren song. Selverstone isn’t interested so much in the 'what if?' parlor game as he is in clinically assessing whether Kennedy had an actual plan for actual withdrawal. And yet that forensic assessment, based on evidence of what did happen rather than what might have been, provides a compelling answer to what Kennedy probably would, and would not, have done. 'Selverstone’s deeply researched and expertly argued book should settle the score on this issue,' Robert Brigham writes in his review. While few books end a long-standing argument, I think this one will do just that'....."

Political Lies: Altering Facts and Rewriting History. The desire of politicians to rewrite or erase history can stem from various factors. Sometimes, it might be driven by political agendas or the need to create a specific narrative that aligns with their goals. They might want to revise historical events or interpretations to shape public opinion or gain support. However, it's essential to remember that history should be studied and understood in its entirety, both the triumphs and the mistakes, to learn from the past and build a better future. The manipulation or erasure of history can be concerning as it may hinder our understanding of the world and hinder progress. It's important to value the authenticity and accuracy of historical records and encourage open dialogue to ensure a comprehensive understanding of our shared past. Arendt tells us that factual truth is at once crucial for political life and more vulnerable to manipulation than we typically consider it. A reminder of the fragility of facts is timely in light of Russian attempts to alter both recent and historical fact, as well as China's formidable ability to control its people's access to information on the Internet. Arendt recounts Clemenceau's response when he was asked what historians will say on the issue of guilt for the outbreak of World War One: “This I don't know. But I know for certain that they will not say Belgium invaded Germany.” Yet Arendt was aware of facts—at least as certain—that world powers went to considerable lengths to alter. Her personal library at Bard College houses her copy of William Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, which recounts Hitler's shocking attempt to cast the German invasion of Poland as a defensive action. Thus Arendt informs us, “Even if we admit that every generation has the right to write its own history, we admit no more than that it has the right to rearrange the facts in accordance with its own perspective; we don't admit the right to touch the factual matter itself.”

"Invincible", by Polish author Stanislaw Lem, is a gripping science fiction novel that follows the crew of the spaceship Invincible as they embark on a mission to uncover the fate of the space cruiser Condor, which vanished years earlier on the planet Regis III. As they delve into the enigmatic and seemingly deserted planet, the crew encounters mysterious artifacts and faces unexpected challenges that test their understanding of intelligence and existence itself. Lem´s exploration in this magnificient 1964 novel offers a thought-provoking reflection on the evolving relationship between humanity and artificial intelligence, shedding light on the complexities and uncertainties inherent in encountering intelligence that differs from our own. As we await the anticipated mid-April final approval of the AI Act, science fiction literature, particularly through the genius of Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, and Lem, compels us to challenge our preconceptions about intelligence (in all its forms) and contemplate what it means to be truly "invincible" in the face of the unknown. It is definitely a must-read. * For Portuguese readers: there is a wonderfully translated version of the book (directly from Polish) by Grupo Saída de Emergência

2. The Flag as a Symbol In the next paragraphs, we will go a little further into semiotics, which is the philosophical study of signs, including their creation and interpretation. Probably, the best maestro of semiotics is de Saussure, a renowned linguist who took the task of elucidating the dyadic of the sign as the relationship between the form (the signifier) and the concept represented (the signified). The two parts of the sign are then the relationship between the signifier and signified [3]. 2.1. Symbols of Gentrification Cultural control could be considered another type of immaterial symbol, where the newcomers exercise a form of power over the original inhabitants [6]. The new cultural production of space results in more policing from neighbors who despise the old residents ways of being. https://lnkd.in/gCur3i2P

Please check out Einstein's views on Indians, Chinese and Europeans in my latest book 'Where Elephants Danced and Dragons Flew' in this extract published in Impact News https://lnkd.in/dAHwBFsj

https://lnkd.in/dBMKGXtH Sometimes science is more art than science in RODRIGO GARCÍA OLZA Novel Series because characters admit that everything remains a work in progress, including cycles of evolution involution. It is when they know that science can be open ended: that each discovery isnt the end all of every thing but simply the platform to discover new things. Science is more art than science because they admit that unintended consequences, serendipity, and simple randomness stay part of the scientific growth process. Ultimately, guess work, theory, and observations are the way; which isnt as exact as we’d like. What remains is still much uncertainty, a lot more to know, and the world isn’t precise. 📚You can learn a lot from the Rodrigo books: not only about vampires 🔮 16-book supernatural series reluctant to give-up all its secrets all at once. The novels change a traditional vampire paradigm with Madrid actor/director (protagonist) Rodrigo García Olza: mysterious, stylish, and free-spirited vampire. Spain’s most famous matador raised his grandson, Rodrigo, after his mother’s murder. Spain’s two most famous sports figures from a single family are tied to a baffling murder mystery linked to Triston Fallonside’s father’s shocking death; and his Bluegrass family’s farm haunted by ghosts offering clues to family secrets. #thebutterflysevilspell #bookstagramespaña #witch #madrid#tarot #bruja #translation #aquarius #translate#laculturanossalva #antinous #translationservices #languages#translators #translationagency Part I⛵Part 2 San Francisco🔥Part 3 Embers of Einar 🎹 📚https://lnkd.in/dqxEVAn 🏰España 16📚saga https://lnkd.in/eHjjHKJt #horses #spain #literature #books #bookstagram #vampire#vampiro #federicogarcíalorca  #lgbtq#elmaleficiodelamariposa #libros #barcelona #rodrigogarcíaolza