David Fitzgerald
@davidfitzgerald.bsky.social
Historian of war, militarization and the US in the world at University College Cork.
Author of Uncertain Warriors: The United States Army betwen the Cold War and the War on Terror (https://cambridge.org/9781009235808).
Author of Uncertain Warriors: The United States Army betwen the Cold War and the War on Terror (https://cambridge.org/9781009235808).
Reposted by David Fitzgerald
Hard to imagine a more sinister & dangerous argument, couched in euphemism & high-minded language. "This essay does not argue liberalism will collapse, only that [US] military officers should be intellectually (and spiritually) prepared for alternatives." warontherocks.com/2025/10/the-...
The American Military Officer After Liberalism
Across academia, government, and Silicon Valley, on social media, and in leading journals, intellectuals and political leaders are openly debating what
warontherocks.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Hard to imagine a more sinister & dangerous argument, couched in euphemism & high-minded language. "This essay does not argue liberalism will collapse, only that [US] military officers should be intellectually (and spiritually) prepared for alternatives." warontherocks.com/2025/10/the-...
Reposted by David Fitzgerald
There’s the joke about Sun Tzu being basic instructions for idiots like “feed your troops” but the most important part of Clausewitz is also just “think about what you are actually trying to accomplish”
What I love about our habit of confusing Means for Ways is that we also confuse Ways for Ends.
Innovation is entirely neutral.
Innovation is entirely neutral.
Driscoll vows Silicon Valley model is the future for the Army
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/10/driscoll-vows-silicon-valley-model-is-the-future-for-the-army/
October 13, 2025 at 6:47 PM
There’s the joke about Sun Tzu being basic instructions for idiots like “feed your troops” but the most important part of Clausewitz is also just “think about what you are actually trying to accomplish”
Reposted by David Fitzgerald
A nice job has opened in my department at Cambridge: Assistant Prof. in US History since 1920.
Please share widely!
No references letters required up front. Applications close 27 Oct. 2025.🗃️
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/assista...
Please share widely!
No references letters required up front. Applications close 27 Oct. 2025.🗃️
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/assista...
Assistant Professor, History of the United States since 1920
The Faculty of History is seeking to appoint an Assistant Professor in post-1920 U.S. political history and/or the history of the United States in the World since 1920, beginning 1 October, 2026. The
www.cam.ac.uk
September 24, 2025 at 4:51 PM
A nice job has opened in my department at Cambridge: Assistant Prof. in US History since 1920.
Please share widely!
No references letters required up front. Applications close 27 Oct. 2025.🗃️
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/assista...
Please share widely!
No references letters required up front. Applications close 27 Oct. 2025.🗃️
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/assista...
Reposted by David Fitzgerald
I spoke to the Irish Times for this very good and rounded piece on the real-world effects of C***GPT in the humanities classroom: www.irishtimes.com/ireland/educ...
‘It’s a monster’: How generative AI is forcing university professors to rethink learning
As students turn to ChatGPT, educators warn that critical thinking, academic integrity and the future of the humanities are at stake
www.irishtimes.com
September 10, 2025 at 8:48 AM
I spoke to the Irish Times for this very good and rounded piece on the real-world effects of C***GPT in the humanities classroom: www.irishtimes.com/ireland/educ...
Shameless self-promotion and all of that, but it is genuinely unsettling to see how some of the most cartoonish ideas that I came across while writing the book have turned into actual policy.
The seeds that are currently bearing fruit in a Department of War focused on “maximum lethality” rather than “tepid legality” were planted in 1990s. Time for more folks to read David Fitzgerald’s excellent Uncertain Warriors #milhist #civmil www.cambridge.org/core/books/u...
Uncertain Warriors
Cambridge Core - Military History - Uncertain Warriors
www.cambridge.org
September 7, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Shameless self-promotion and all of that, but it is genuinely unsettling to see how some of the most cartoonish ideas that I came across while writing the book have turned into actual policy.
Reposted by David Fitzgerald
maybe 10% of the current crop of GOFOs legitimately understand that the US public's default position towards the military historically is somewhere between ambivalence and dislike, and that the last several decades have been different because a variety of institutions made efforts to change it
And I truly do not understand why the military is willing to blow up 50 years of rebuilding their credibility with the public on behalf of Donald fucking Trump because god forbid a squad from the 82nd airborne get jumpy somewhere, there is no coming back from that
This is actually a good question in the sense that these guys can read polls too. Why hitch their wagons to an administration speed running 35% approval? Even as a half measure you could just get one person on the JCS to fall on their sword out of sheer self preservation…
August 22, 2025 at 6:55 PM
maybe 10% of the current crop of GOFOs legitimately understand that the US public's default position towards the military historically is somewhere between ambivalence and dislike, and that the last several decades have been different because a variety of institutions made efforts to change it
Reposted by David Fitzgerald
An excerpt in @foreignpolicy.com from Andrew Preston's superb new book, Total Defense: The New Deal and the Invention of National Security.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/30/f...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/30/f...
How FDR Invented National Security
A presidential speech in 1937 marked an unexpected turn in U.S. strategic thought.
foreignpolicy.com
June 1, 2025 at 7:33 PM
An excerpt in @foreignpolicy.com from Andrew Preston's superb new book, Total Defense: The New Deal and the Invention of National Security.
foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/30/f...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/05/30/f...
Reposted by David Fitzgerald
Not your dad’s WW2–find out more in this interview I did recently and get 50% off the book at the same time 🥳
"This summer marks the 80th anniversary of the 'official' end of WWII, but in 'The Greater Second World War,' the war’s timeline is extended back to 1931 and into the mid-1950s." news.cornell.edu/stories/2025...
Hint: Get 50% off w/code 095000 this week: www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
Hint: Get 50% off w/code 095000 this week: www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
June 29, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Not your dad’s WW2–find out more in this interview I did recently and get 50% off the book at the same time 🥳
It was great to catch up with @ceceliacancellaro.bsky.social but also really cool to see my book out in the wild again!
Great to catch up with @davidfitzgerald.bsky.social at #SHAFR2025 and honored to be his publisher @shafrhistorians.bsky.social
June 27, 2025 at 3:02 PM
It was great to catch up with @ceceliacancellaro.bsky.social but also really cool to see my book out in the wild again!
Reposted by David Fitzgerald
The spicier take is while this will never happen, there objectively should be an investigation into what unauthorized/unknown to the rest of DoD/the executive communications CENTCOM was having off the books with the Israeli government, because suffice to say I have my suspicions
Not joking about this by the way, this is a war that was 100% cooked up in Tampa and is 100% illegal
June 22, 2025 at 12:25 AM
The spicier take is while this will never happen, there objectively should be an investigation into what unauthorized/unknown to the rest of DoD/the executive communications CENTCOM was having off the books with the Israeli government, because suffice to say I have my suspicions
Never thought that writing a piece years ago on the post-Gulf War parades would be of contemporary relevance, but here we are.
How Trump’s military parade compared to others around the globe
Around the world, parades tell national stories, @davidfitzgerald.bsky.social, specialist in American military and foreign policy, says.
Around the world, parades tell national stories, @davidfitzgerald.bsky.social, specialist in American military and foreign policy, says.
How Trump’s military parade compares to others around the globe
While the idea might be novel for many Americans, military parades are common spectacles in many parts of the world.
www.washingtonpost.com
June 17, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Never thought that writing a piece years ago on the post-Gulf War parades would be of contemporary relevance, but here we are.
Reposted by David Fitzgerald
I hate when my historical research is relevant. The GI Rights Hotline has a history going back to before its 1994 founding by a network of peace activists after the Gulf War. GI counseling has been a cornerstone of peace activism since the Vietnam War. Some of the same ppl are still doing it. 🗃️
Dr Reich, to stop this mess, Service Members need to know that they have rights and they are required to disobey illegal orders.
GI Rights Hotline dot Org
girightshotline.org
GI Rights Hotline dot Org
girightshotline.org
GI Rights Hotline: Military Discharges and Military Counseling
Are you in the military or thinking about joining? Are you unsure of where to get reliable answers? Call the GI Rights Hotline at 1-877-447-4487. Call for yourself or someone you care about Free and c...
girightshotline.org
June 10, 2025 at 4:22 PM
I hate when my historical research is relevant. The GI Rights Hotline has a history going back to before its 1994 founding by a network of peace activists after the Gulf War. GI counseling has been a cornerstone of peace activism since the Vietnam War. Some of the same ppl are still doing it. 🗃️
Reposted by David Fitzgerald
OK, I know more about the CA case and we have more information on the deployments coming out, so a few thoughts.
1. This is a massive overreach of POTUS authority. Using Section 12406 to federalize/deploy military forces w/out also invoking the Insurrection Act is literally unprecedented. 1/
1. This is a massive overreach of POTUS authority. Using Section 12406 to federalize/deploy military forces w/out also invoking the Insurrection Act is literally unprecedented. 1/
June 8, 2025 at 5:42 PM
OK, I know more about the CA case and we have more information on the deployments coming out, so a few thoughts.
1. This is a massive overreach of POTUS authority. Using Section 12406 to federalize/deploy military forces w/out also invoking the Insurrection Act is literally unprecedented. 1/
1. This is a massive overreach of POTUS authority. Using Section 12406 to federalize/deploy military forces w/out also invoking the Insurrection Act is literally unprecedented. 1/
Reposted by David Fitzgerald
Friends, followers, and colleagues: some professional news, as they say.
After four wonderful years with the US Army War College, I resigned my position effective May 2, 2025. 1/
After four wonderful years with the US Army War College, I resigned my position effective May 2, 2025. 1/
June 5, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Friends, followers, and colleagues: some professional news, as they say.
After four wonderful years with the US Army War College, I resigned my position effective May 2, 2025. 1/
After four wonderful years with the US Army War College, I resigned my position effective May 2, 2025. 1/
Reposted by David Fitzgerald
Utterly disgraceful and an open assault on the historical profession. These are utterly professional, non-partisan advisors, overseeing and giving advice to the State department on the declassification of US government documents.
Unhappy to confirm that the entire Historical Advisory Committee at the State Department received termination notices this afternoon (myself included). The HAC, set up by Congress, oversees the office that produces the FRUS series. history.state.gov/about/hac/in... 1/
April 30, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Utterly disgraceful and an open assault on the historical profession. These are utterly professional, non-partisan advisors, overseeing and giving advice to the State department on the declassification of US government documents.
Took a while, but the ad is also now up on an actual jobs website! www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DMV502/l...
April 24, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Took a while, but the ad is also now up on an actual jobs website! www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DMV502/l...
Reposted by David Fitzgerald
ICYMI, Team #MilitaryHistory - the stellar volume edited expertly by Andrew Buchanan and Ruth Lawlor, "The Greater Second World War: Global Perspectives," has reached its publication date! Head to @cornellupress.bsky.social's page to get one. I'll wait...
www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
April 17, 2025 at 7:31 PM
ICYMI, Team #MilitaryHistory - the stellar volume edited expertly by Andrew Buchanan and Ruth Lawlor, "The Greater Second World War: Global Perspectives," has reached its publication date! Head to @cornellupress.bsky.social's page to get one. I'll wait...
www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501...
Reposted by David Fitzgerald
wow the US Army now has officially less understanding of and care for their soldiers' morale & wellbeing than the Italian army of 1918! way to go, guys!
happy to sell Pete Hegseth a copy of my book to explain why this is Not Smart but it might have too many long words for him to understand
happy to sell Pete Hegseth a copy of my book to explain why this is Not Smart but it might have too many long words for him to understand
Fuck them soldiers...and also ping pong.
April 17, 2025 at 12:03 PM
wow the US Army now has officially less understanding of and care for their soldiers' morale & wellbeing than the Italian army of 1918! way to go, guys!
happy to sell Pete Hegseth a copy of my book to explain why this is Not Smart but it might have too many long words for him to understand
happy to sell Pete Hegseth a copy of my book to explain why this is Not Smart but it might have too many long words for him to understand
Reposted by David Fitzgerald
Job alert! My dept is hiring a lecturer in international economic history. This a permanent, full-time post and it's (hopefully) a really good time to be joining the School of History here. Very happy to chat with anyone about the role, UCC, or life in Cork in general. 🗃️
www.ucc.ie/en/future-hu...
www.ucc.ie/en/future-hu...
Lecturer in International Economic History | University College Cork
UCC wishes to appoint an academic to the role of Lecturer in International Economic History. Reporting to the Head of School of History.
www.ucc.ie
April 11, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Job alert! My dept is hiring a lecturer in international economic history. This a permanent, full-time post and it's (hopefully) a really good time to be joining the School of History here. Very happy to chat with anyone about the role, UCC, or life in Cork in general. 🗃️
www.ucc.ie/en/future-hu...
www.ucc.ie/en/future-hu...
Job alert! My dept is hiring a lecturer in international economic history. This a permanent, full-time post and it's (hopefully) a really good time to be joining the School of History here. Very happy to chat with anyone about the role, UCC, or life in Cork in general. 🗃️
www.ucc.ie/en/future-hu...
www.ucc.ie/en/future-hu...
Lecturer in International Economic History | University College Cork
UCC wishes to appoint an academic to the role of Lecturer in International Economic History. Reporting to the Head of School of History.
www.ucc.ie
April 11, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Job alert! My dept is hiring a lecturer in international economic history. This a permanent, full-time post and it's (hopefully) a really good time to be joining the School of History here. Very happy to chat with anyone about the role, UCC, or life in Cork in general. 🗃️
www.ucc.ie/en/future-hu...
www.ucc.ie/en/future-hu...
We're hiring! I can echo what Jay says in his second post that there's a lot of exciting stuff on the way in our dept and that Cork is a really great place to live.
🚨FT Permanent Job 🚨
My department is hiring a lecturer (B/B) in 18th-c. Irish history, with the desire for someone whose research and teaching pertains to the Irish 'long eighteenth century (1690-1830)...and broader international, political and intellectual context of the period.' 🗃️
My department is hiring a lecturer (B/B) in 18th-c. Irish history, with the desire for someone whose research and teaching pertains to the Irish 'long eighteenth century (1690-1830)...and broader international, political and intellectual context of the period.' 🗃️
April 11, 2025 at 1:11 PM
We're hiring! I can echo what Jay says in his second post that there's a lot of exciting stuff on the way in our dept and that Cork is a really great place to live.
Reposted by David Fitzgerald
The Society for Military History is now archiving historical materials related to military history that are disappearing from federal or state websites. We are open to submissions, anonymously or otherwise. Please see
www.smh-hq.org/archivedreso... and note there the submission links.
www.smh-hq.org/archivedreso... and note there the submission links.
Archived Resources | The Society for Military History
www.smh-hq.org
April 8, 2025 at 12:49 PM
The Society for Military History is now archiving historical materials related to military history that are disappearing from federal or state websites. We are open to submissions, anonymously or otherwise. Please see
www.smh-hq.org/archivedreso... and note there the submission links.
www.smh-hq.org/archivedreso... and note there the submission links.
Reposted by David Fitzgerald
I am a recent member of the Society for Military History @smh-historians.bsky.social, so I'm not in charge or anything, but I have mutuals who are members, too.
What is SMH saying about the erasures from public military history sites? Is there a statement? Is it on the agenda for the conference?
What is SMH saying about the erasures from public military history sites? Is there a statement? Is it on the agenda for the conference?
March 18, 2025 at 1:57 PM
I am a recent member of the Society for Military History @smh-historians.bsky.social, so I'm not in charge or anything, but I have mutuals who are members, too.
What is SMH saying about the erasures from public military history sites? Is there a statement? Is it on the agenda for the conference?
What is SMH saying about the erasures from public military history sites? Is there a statement? Is it on the agenda for the conference?
Reposted by David Fitzgerald
not by any stretch the first person to say this but: it is darkly funny how nakedly imperialist Trump turned out to be given the lengths to which some professional opinion havers went to take his "isolationism" intellectually seriously
March 11, 2025 at 3:51 PM
not by any stretch the first person to say this but: it is darkly funny how nakedly imperialist Trump turned out to be given the lengths to which some professional opinion havers went to take his "isolationism" intellectually seriously