Dr. Matthew Levin’s Cold War University offers a look at the circumstances that surrounded UW-Madison’s burst on to the national scene in the mid 20th century as one of the most politically active campuses in America. Through an interview with Dr. Levin himself and an analysis of his book, this article discusses how Wisconsin’s politically diverse climate, combined with the blending of in-state and out-of-state students informed what would become an epicenter of anti-war and Civil Rights protests.
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Seven Days that Ended the Prague Spring
“Prague Spring” was a liberalization attempt led by Alexander Dubček, the newly elected first secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, to reform socialism in Czechoslovakia and create a more humane version of communism in April 1968. The program included economic and political reforms, the latter specifically focusing on the freedom of speech and press.
How Martin Luther King Jr. found his Love-Force
This article explores King’s upbringing, influences, and his intellectual journey towards discovering the concept of Satyagraha.
Protests in the Age of Social Media
In the last two decades, social media has become a central part of our daily life and a catalyst for change in society. With over 4 billion people using social media globally, various platforms such as Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram have become a way for people to express themselves and share information about topics they are passionate about.
Hands Across the Baltics: The Story of the Baltic Way
In 1986, between 5 and 6.5 million Americans held hands for 15 minutes in an attempt to create a human chain across the United States. The event was known as “Hands Across America” and aimed to raise money for poverty and hunger. Three years later, two million Latvian, Estonian, and Lithuanian citizens joined hands, not to raise money, but to protest the illegal occupation of their countries by the Soviet Union.
People Power in the Philippines
February 2022 marks the 36th anniversary of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) People Power Revolution in the Philippines, when the population overthrew dictator and kleptocrat Ferdinand Marcos and abolished the martial law implemented during his rule. However, history is at risk of repeating itself as Marcos’ son, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., won the presidential elections in May 2022, marking the Marcos family’s return to Malacanang after 36 years.
The Overturning of Roe v. Wade and the Role of Activism for the Future
Since the decision of Roe v Wade in 1973, many cases narrowed the scope of this decision but never overturned it completely. This all changed in May 2022 when a draft of a majority opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito, was leaked to political news sources.
Music as a Form of Protest During the 2020 Black Lives Matter Protests
Hip-hop’s historical connection to social justice has allowed it to be used as a tool to empower the black community to speak out about racism in America.
How the “Capitol Crawl” Galvanized Congress Into Passing a Landmark Civil Rights Bill
Sometimes, the fight for civil rights is an 83-step process. Such was the case for disability rights activists in March of 1990, when delays in Congressional action on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) were stalling the overdue passage of a landmark bill to protect individuals with visible and invisible disabilities.
SEALDs: Assessing Student-led Anti-War Protests in Contemporary Japan
SEALDs (Students Emergency Action for Liberal Democracy) was a student organization founded in May 2015 as part of the protest movement against Shinzō Abe and his government’s legislations to reinterpret the Japanese Constitution to allow Japan to engage in collective self-defense on behalf of its allies, e.g., the United States.