History And 9/11

Critical Perspectives on the Past

by Joanne J. Meyerowitz

The contributors to this collection set the attacks on the United States in historical perspective. They reject the simplistic notion of an age-old clash of civilizations and instead examine the particular histories of American nationalism, anti-Americanism, US foreign policy and Islamic fundamentalism among other topics. With renewed attention to Americans' sense of national identity, they focus on the US in relation to the rest of the world. A collection of recent and historical documents - speeches, articles and book excerpts - supplement the essays. Taken together, the essays and sources in this volume comment on the dangers of seeing the events of September 11th as splitting the nation's history into before and after. They argue eloquently that no useful understanding of the present is possible without an unobstructed view of the past.

Genres: History

288 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2003

About the author

Joanne Meyerowitz is Arthur Unobskey Professor of History and American Studies at Yale University and Co-Director of the Yale Research Initiative on the History of Sexualities.

Reviews

[Joseph Stieb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this little volume of 12 or so essays plus some primary sources to both scholars and teachers who was to provide historical background and context to the events of 911. I didn't necessarily agree w all of the essays, but they are short, interesting, punchy, and informative, and they happen to come from top scholars in Middle Eastern and U.S. history. The best essays were Nick Cullather on U.S. development, Ussama Makdisi on the origins of anti-Americanism in the MIddle East, and R. Scott Appleby on History in the Christian, Jewish, and Islamic fundamentalist mindset. Themes of these essays include the importance of historical explanations for events like 9/11 and broader cultural/political clashes (as opposed to ), the dangers of self-righteous nationalism, and the need for historical reflection and understanding even at a time of justified rage and fear. The book then ends with 50 or so pages of primary sources relevant to the essays. I would definitely consider assigning this book (depending on cost) to a college class, or at least some of the essays. It's a perfect example of how historians should try to engage with current events: bring light, not heat, avoid politicization, acknowledge public emotion, and focus on educating rather than preaching.