History

Iran protests, explained

Historian Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet, an expert on modern Iran and gender in the School of Arts & Sciences, discusses what sparked the protests and why they’re important.

Kristen de Groot

Unpacking Latino conservatism

The Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies hosted Geraldo Cadava, author of “The Hispanic Republican,” and Penn political scientist Michael Jones-Correa to help situate recent Latino trends within the longer historical perspective.

Kristen de Groot

Exploring what it means to be curious

In a new book “Curious Minds: The Power of Connection,” Penn’s Dani S. Bassett and twin sibling Perry Zurn weave together history, linguistics, network science, neuroscience, and philosophy to unpack the concept of curiosity.

Katherine Unger Baillie

The future of decline in America

In his new book “The Future of Decline: Anglo-American Culture at its Limits,” English Professor Jed Esty offers alternatives to America’s “language of greatness,” taking lessons from the experience of Britain during the past century.

Louisa Shepard

Making sense of a United Ireland

In a new book, political scientist Brendan O’Leary explores the contentious issue of a reunited Ireland and why now is the time to consider the future of the island.

Kristen de Groot

Mikhail Gorbachev’s legacy

Penn experts share their thoughts on Gorbachev’s impact on the Soviet Union and the world, and how history will remember him.

Kristen de Groot



In the News


The New York Times

A century-old law’s aftershocks are still felt at the Supreme Court

PIK Professor Karen M. Tani says that granting the Supreme Court the power to set its own agenda has caused it to gravitate toward cases that have preoccupied the conservative legal movement.

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Time

Abortion has always been more than health care

In an opinion essay, Ph.D. student Christen Hammock Jones in the School of Arts & Sciences says that relying solely on expertise and professional judgment primes people to think about abortion rights as a matter of medical judgment instead of equality and autonomy.

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The Telegraph

Bankruptcy, depression and random death: Xi’s China is tearing itself apart

Victor H. Mair of the School of Arts & Sciences says that people in China have many memes that represent opting out of society.

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Chronicle of Higher Education

Stop treating students like babies

Jonathan Zimmerman of the Graduate School of Education organized an in-person 2016 discussion between Penn students and Republican students at Cairn University to foster productive conversation and find common ground.

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CBS News

Presidential historian assesses Trump’s 2024 win

Mary Frances Berry of the School of Arts & Sciences discusses Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential victory and upcoming second term.

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New Republic

The bad politics of bad posture

In her book “Slouch,” Beth Linker of the School of Arts & Sciences outlines how societal pressures have driven huge swaths of people to embrace falsehoods about posture.

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