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Josh Donovan

@jmaydonovan.bsky.social
63 followers 99 following 9 posts

Middle East historian (modern Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and its diasporas) | history teacher | one of three Joshes 👬🐶🏳️‍🌈

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Josh Donovan @jmaydonovan.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Yes! Some of us are putting forth a resolution at the upcoming business meeting in January precisely because the AHA's leadership lacks any credibility on supporting the interests of its members, esp. those who work on the Middle East. Please sign & email Council! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com
Resolution for the AHA Annual Meeting
Historians for Palestine wishes to propose the following resolution for consideration at the AHA's 2027 annual meeting. In order to do so, we must collect signatures from current AHA members in good s...
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Josh Donovan @jmaydonovan.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Sad to hear about the passing of Prof. John Esposito. His work profoundly shaped my own intellectual trajectory. He was a pioneering scholar of the Islamic world, who paired rigorous scholarly analysis with empathy and a solid moral compass pointed at promoting peace, tolerance, and human rights 🕊
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Stacy Fahrenthold @sfahrenthold.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
A powerful statement by 142 historians, representing the 142 years that the American Historical @historians.org has had its congressional charter, to say one thing: it's time to confront the AHA's Palestine Exception. In awe of these colleagues, read more: www.usscholarsspeak.org
usscholarsspeak.org
US Scholars Speak
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Megaphone News @megaphone.news · 14/06/2026
Mona Khalil spent over 20 years protecting sea turtles on Mansouri Beach. After she was injured in an Israeli attack, activists continued her initiative at Rmeileh Beach, where they protected the first loggerhead nest of 73 eggs on Thursday. youtu.be/fbBKzK4JNRc
youtu.be
من المنصوري إلى الرميلة: مبادرة منى خليل لحماية السلاحف البحرية تتواصل |
YouTube video by ميغافون
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Josh Donovan @jmaydonovan.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
I attended & asked what the AHA can/should do to help Mideast historians navigate growing threats to their academic freedom. Rather than address my question, the moderator ended the event early! The refusal of @historians.org to listen to, much less advocate for us is why we need new leadership.
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Josh Donovan @jmaydonovan.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Powerful statement by Historians for Peace & Democracy. Contrary to what leadership suggests, the AHA regularly engages in "political" advocacy to defend history & historians, as it should! We're just tired of double standards. #EverythingHasAHistory! www.historiansforpeace.org/2026/05/29/h...
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Josh Donovan @jmaydonovan.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Excited for both of these new books, which will reshape how historians think about the post-Ottoman Middle East. I'm selfishly grateful to them both for publishing before I finished my own book proposal. I'm eager to think through and build on their brilliant insights!
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James Ryan @jdryan08.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
I will point out that MESA, MERIP, and several other academic associations and non-profits are c3 orgs and have no problem speaking up for academic freedom when it comes to Palestine. If you’re afraid of your status for joining us, that’s a skill issue, as the kids say.
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Josh Donovan @jmaydonovan.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
Celebrating this guy's 7th trip around the Sun with some Ben & Jerry's!
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Priya Lal @priyalalista.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Historians! This is a great overview of what an undemocratic disaster our professional association has become, and how we can take it back: www.instagram.com/p/DY5MxxqGse...
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Josh Donovan @jmaydonovan.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
I would be happy to talk, but your account doesn't accept DMs. In the meantime, I would encourage you to examine the threats facing Mideast historians and ask yourself whether you think the AHA has done a good job advocating for us. Archival silences can speak volumes.
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Josh Donovan @jmaydonovan.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
In all the advocacy alerts, you will not find a single reference to the myriad threats to Mideast historians, specifically. How are you ok with that? AHA leadership, incl. the "Academic Freedom committee" is fiddling while my subfield burns to the ground. Can you fault me for wanting new leadership?
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Josh Donovan @jmaydonovan.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Junior historian here. I'm tired of the AHA's double standards. Not just in condemning Russia but not Israel -- on academic freedom issues too. AHA has remained silent as my colleagues have lost jobs, pulled courses, and fought spurious Title VI cases while bragging about its advocacy elsewhere.
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Stacy Fahrenthold @sfahrenthold.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
So do you think the @historians.org director wrote that email today or was it AHA's shady Thorn Run Partners consultants who did it for them? It's shameful for a scholarly society to scold its members for using the democratic instruments in the bylaw, and to dictate to its members who to vote for.
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