HIST 4820 - History in the Headlines
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 43552,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
David Simonelli
Email: dsimonelli@ysu.edu
Course Description
4820. History in the Headlines. Twenty-first century history viewed through the lens of contemporary events. Course content changes as events change, but will always include 9/11, climate change, COVID-19, growth of Chinese economic power, Palestinian-Israeli conflict, among others. Prereq.: none. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO READINGS |
No textbooks required
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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History 4820-43552
| Day | Date | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | 8/25 | Introduction | * Read syllabus/format-grammar-style guide * divvy up responsibilities for speaker questions | |
| Thu | 8/27 | Is world migration a crisis in the 21st century, and if so, what kind of a crisis is it? | ||
| Tue | 9/1 | Vicki Vicars, Thrive Mahoning Valley | ||
| Thu | 9/3 | “Global Migration in the 21st Century: Navigating the Impact of Climate Change, Conflict, and Demographic Shifts”, World Bank Group (December 11. 2023) https://www.worldbank.org/en/ news/feature/2023/12/11/global-migration-in-the-21st-century-navigating-the-impact-of-climate-change-conflict-and-demographic-shifts [accessed July 22, 2026] “Northern America” in Chapter 3 - Migration and Migrants: Regional Dimensions, World Migration Report 2026, United Nations International Organization for Migration https://worldmigrationreport.iom.int/what-we-do/world-migration-report-2026/chapter-3/northern-america [accessed July 22, 2026] | ||
| Tue | 9/8 | Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence as a Research Tool Rachel Faerber-Ovaska * demonstrate doing research on speakers/subjects for lecture series | ||
| Thu | 9/10 | Why are the US and Iran at war, and does Iran have to have a nuclear weapon at its disposal in order to be a world power? | ||
| Tue | 9/15 | Negin Mirzade Yazdi, YSU international student | RESEARCH TOPIC CHOICES DUE | |
| Thu | 9/17 | Ondrej Palicka, “Why Would Iran Build Nuclear Weapons? The Security Perspective”, Atlas Institute of International Affairs (May 20, 2021) https://atlasinstitute.org/why-would-iran-build-nuclear-weapons-the-security-perspective/ [accessed July 22, 2026] Mariel Ferragamo, Jonathan Masters and Will Merrow, “What Are Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Capabilities?”, Council on Foreign Relations (March 4, 2026) https://www.cfr.org/articles/what-are-irans-nuclear-and-missile-capabilities [accessed July 22, 2026] | ||
| Tue | 9/22 | LIBRARY RESEARCH - MEET IN MAAG LIBRARY FOURTH FLOOR INSTRUCTION ROOM Becky Moore, library research | ||
| Thu | 9/24 | How have political party divisions in the US become so vast, and can they be healed? | ||
| Tue | 9/29 | Guy Coviello, President & CEO of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber Josh Prest, District Representative, Office of U.S. Senator Rob Portman | TOPIC STATEMENT DUE | |
| Thu | 10/1 | Eric Loepp, “Political Polarization in America: A Historical Analysis”, Divided We Fall (May 25, 2022) https://dividedwefall.org/political-polarization-in-america-past-and-present/ [accessed July 23, 2026] Judy Woodruff interview of Heather Cox Richardson, “Historian compares America's current divisions to the past and how we can overcome them”, PBS NewsHour {October 25, 2023) https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/historian-compares-americas-current-divisions-to-the-past-and-how-we-can-overcome-them [accessed July 23, 2026] | ||
| Tue | 10/6 | Brian Bonhomme, YSU professor of Russian history | ||
| Thu | 10/8 | What is the war between Russia and Ukraine about, and how can it be brought to an end? | ||
| Tue | 10/13 | Jennifer Kavanaugh, “Trump is blowing his chance to make peace in Ukraine”, Responsible Statecraft (June 16, 2026) https://responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-russia-ukraine-negotiations/ accessed July 23, 2026] Taylor McNeil interview of Shevel and Maria Popova, “How Russia and Ukraine’s Tangled Histories Led to War”, Tufts Now (January 22, 2024) https://now.tufts.edu/2024/01/22/how-russia-and-ukraines-tangled-histories-led-war [accessed July 23, 2026] | ||
| Thu | 10/15 | FOUNDATIONAL BOOK AND EVIDENCE LOG * read secondary source * assemble direct quotations, accurate source information, key developments, emerging themes * discuss research questions in class with goal of refining/specifying goals of research | ||
| Tue | 10/20 | AJ Sumell, YSU professor of urban economics | ||
| Thu | 10/22 | Is the gap between rich and poor growing in the western world to the point where there needs to be some sort of change? | BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE | |
| Tue | 10/27 | Matthew Johnston, “Income Inequality in the U.S: Major Events and Policies”, Investopedia (March 20, 2026) https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/110215/brief-history-income-inequality-united-states.asp [accessed July 25, 2026] Daniel Waldenstrom, “The Inequality Myth”, Foreign Affairs (May 19, 2025) https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/inequality-myth-western-societies-more-equal-waldenstrom [accessed July 25, 2026] | ||
| Thu | 10/29 | What motivates the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, and is it possible to solve that conflict? | ||
| Tue | 11/3 | Wally Atway, Palestinian/retired Youngstown grocer Chaya Kessler, retired director, Kent State Jewish Studies Program | ||
| Thu | 11/5 | Robert Barron, “Obstacles and Opportunities in the Pursuit of Israeli-Palestinian Peace”, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University (March 12, 2025) https://www.bakerinstitute.org/ research/obstacles-and-opportunities-pursuit-israeli-palestinian-peace {accessed July 25, 2026] Laura Almagor, Fabio Cristiano, Peter Malcontent, Simeon Paravantes and Joas Wagemakers, “The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Explained: This Preceded the Gaza War”, Utrecht University (July 17, 2024) https://www.uu.nl/en/background/the-israeli-palestinian-conflict-explained-this-preceded-the-gaza-war [accessed July 28, 2026] | ||
| Tue | 11/10 | Dr. Dee Banks, Northeast Ohio Infectious Disease Associates | ||
| Thu | 11/12 | Is another world pandemic coming, and will science be able to stop it? | ROUGH DRAFT DUE IN MY EMAIL INBOX BY 5 PM | |
| Tue | 11/17 | Arturo Casadevall, “Pandemics Past, Present, and Future: Progress and Persistent Risk”, Journal of Clinical Investigation 134 (7) 2024 https://www.jci.org/articles/view/179519/pdf [accessed July 28, 2026] “Six Years After COVID-19’s Global Alarm: Is the World Better Prepared for the Next Pandemic?”, World Health Organization (February 2, 2026) https://www.who.int/news/item/02-02-2026-six-years-after-covid-19-s-global-alarm-is-the-world-better-prepared-for-the-next-pandemic [accessed July 28, 2026] | ||
| Thu | 11/19 | Will China overtake the US as an economic power in the 21st century? | ||
| Tue | 11/24 | Mousa Kassis, Director of the Ohio SBDC Export Assistance Network | ||
| Thu | 11/26 | THANKSGIVING DAY | ||
| Tue | 12/1 | Graham Allison, Nathalie Kiersznowski and Charlotte Fitzek, “The Great Economic Rivalry: China vs the US”, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School (March 23, 2022) https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/great-economic-rivalry-china-vs-us [accessed July 28, 2026] Tejvan Pettinger, “How China Came to Dominate Global Economy”, Economics Help (October 21, 2025) https://www.economicshelp.org/blog/218157/economics/how-china-came-to-dominate-global-economy/ [accessed July 28, 2026] | ||
| Thu | 12/3 | RESEARCH PAPER PRESENTATIONS | ||
| Thu | 12/10 | RESEARCH PAPER PRESENTATIONS |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.