Dr Roberto Mazza
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robbyref.bsky.social
Dr Roberto Mazza
@robbyref.bsky.social
800 followers 540 following 160 posts
Historian of MENA and conspiracy theories: run, officiate basketball, editor JQ #podcaster
'If my grandma had wheels, she would have been a bike' (cit.)
Looking for a job.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Dr Roberto Mazza
alexchurchill.bsky.social
We’re very excited about this at @thegreatwargroup.bsky.social HQ! This is OPEN TO ALL, regardless of your background, so no imposter syndrome, and please SHARE THE NEWS. If you have a story to tell, get in touch! You can interpret the theme any way you choose!
December 28, 2025 at 1:17 PM
robbyref.bsky.social
2026 opens with a new article published by the Bulletin of Palestine Studies.
The Last Crusade and The First Zionists: Religion, Empire, and The Making of Modern Palestine
www.filistin.org/en/pub/artic...
Bulletin of Palestine Studies » Submission » The Last Crusade and The First Zionists: Religion, Empire, and The Making of Modern Palestine
Bu makale, Birinci Dünya Savaşı sırasında İngiliz imparatorluk politikasının Filistin'e yönelik ihmal edilen dini boyutlarını incelemekte ve Hıristiyan Siyonist ağları, haçlı söylemi ve İngiliz İsrailciliğinin stratejik değerlendirmelerin işlediği temel çerçeveleri sağladığını savunmaktadır. İngiltere ve Amerika'yı kapsayan ulusötesi evanjelik ağlar, Balfour Deklarasyonu ve Kudüs'ün işgali dahil olmak üzere kilit kararları etkilemiş, hem istihbarat toplama örgütleri hem de siyasi destek kaynakları olarak işlev görmüştür. Ancak çoklu dini çerçeveleri birleştirme girişimleri temel çelişkiler yarattı—Yahudi restorasyonuna yönelik Hıristiyan Siyonist desteği, Hıristiyan hakimiyetini vurgulayan haçlı imgesiyle çelişti. Dini beklentiler ile pratik yönetim gerçekleri arasındaki uçurum, manda dönemi boyunca İngiliz otoritesini sarsan sürekli gerilimlere katkıda bulundu. Bu dini ağlar imparatorluk çöküşünden sağ çıkarak çağdaş hareketlere dönüştü ve özellikle Amerikan evanjelik İsrail desteği olmak üzere Orta Doğu siyasetini etkilemeye devam ediyor.
www.filistin.org
January 2, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Reposted by Dr Roberto Mazza
heissenstat.bsky.social
Pleased to contribute to this free collection of modern MENA primary sources

humanities-collections.exeter.ac.uk/dame/s/en/it...
Global Histories of MENA in the 20th Century - A Primary Source Collection - Digital Archive of the Middle East
humanities-collections.exeter.ac.uk
December 15, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Reposted by Dr Roberto Mazza
chriskempshall.bsky.social
As @blackmillgames.bsky.social continues its build up for ‘Gallipoli’ here’s a video where I drill down into some of the historical background! 🗃️

youtu.be/6QyojSkXHpA?...
The History Of The Ottoman Theatre | With Chris Kempshall
YouTube video by WW1 Game Series
youtu.be
November 12, 2025 at 2:14 PM
robbyref.bsky.social
just saying....I am not sure what's new here.
November 6, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Reposted by Dr Roberto Mazza
selenadaly.bsky.social
This week, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social about my recent book Emigrant Soldiers: Mobilising Italians Abroad in the First World War. If anyone has a commute they'd like to liven up with tales of war, take a listen! newbooksnetwork.com/emigrant-sol...
Selena Daly, "Emigrant Soldiers: Mobilising Italians Abroad in the First World War" (Cambridge UP, 2025) - New Books Network
newbooksnetwork.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:09 PM
robbyref.bsky.social
The latest episode of Jerusalem Unplugged is with Elizabeth Imber author of Uncertain Empire, highlighting diverse and sometimes conflicting visions of Jewish political futures for Palestine
shows.acast.com/687ff289498a...
Uncertain Empire with Elizabeth Imber | Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast
shows.acast.com
October 16, 2025 at 9:14 PM
robbyref.bsky.social
Happy to announce that the new issue of Jerusalem Quarterly 102 is now available online and in print

www.palestine-studies.org/en/node/1658...
Jerusalem Quarterly, Summer 2025 (Special Issue)
Latest Journal Issue | This issue of the Jerusalem Quarterly is a special issue dedicated to the works of Tawfiq Canaan (1882–1964), the foremost Palestinian ethnographer of the twentieth century; gue...
www.palestine-studies.org
October 14, 2025 at 5:49 PM
robbyref.bsky.social
Happy to see the latest work of my good friend Lee Brice
drchristinah.bsky.social Dr. Christina Hotalen @drchristinah.bsky.social · Dec 31
It arrived today on the last day of the year, and I couldn’t be happier. It is very validating to see my name in a Cambridge University Press publication.
October 9, 2025 at 5:45 PM
robbyref.bsky.social
Besides, not only Trump tends to disappoint, also Netanyahu, which has more reasons to see on of these 'if' failing than anybody else.
mehdirhasan.bsky.social Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · Oct 8
If this deal holds, if it goes beyond the 1st phrase, if all of the hostages on both side are released, if Israel withdraws its troops & doesn't resume bombing, if aid gets in, then I'll give Trump credit.

But I count 5 "ifs" above. Let's see. Trump always tends to disappoint.
apnews.com The Associated Press @apnews.com · Oct 8
BREAKING: Israel and Hamas reach agreement on "first phase" of plan to stop fighting, release hostages and prisoners, Trump says.
October 9, 2025 at 12:33 AM
robbyref.bsky.social
Se avete, e dovreste averne, ascoltate Pizzaballa su 6.30

music.youtube.com/watch?v=kz4z...
Pizzaballa: "Cercare segni di salvezza nella disumanità di Gaza" | VIVAVOCE
YouTube video by Chora Media
music.youtube.com
October 2, 2025 at 2:20 PM
robbyref.bsky.social
Here is the latest episode of Jerusalem Unplugged with Michael Kinnamon and Philip Graubart discussing their novels and Jerusalem.

shows.acast.com/687ff289498a...
Fiction and Jerusalem with Michael Kinnamon and Philip Graubart | Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast
shows.acast.com
October 2, 2025 at 2:09 PM
robbyref.bsky.social
Meloni is now suggesting that the flotilla may lead to the failure of the ceasefire, as if there was one in place. The reality is that she's under a lot of pressure, should something happen to the flotilla, she may have to (unwillingly) take action so much is the popular support for Gaza now.
September 30, 2025 at 9:09 PM
robbyref.bsky.social
So in the of the rubbles and destruction, they found documents, I mean paper and folders. If it was not in the middle of a genocide, it could be a good joke.
ayoub.bsky.social elia ayoub @ayoub.bsky.social · Sep 30
The Israelis have started their usual disinfo campaign to smear the activists on the flotilla on their way to try and break the starvation siege of Gaza.
Israel Foreign Ministry @IsraelMFA EXPOSED: Official Hamas documents found in the Gaza Strip - now revealed for the first time - prove Hamas' direct involvement in the funding and execution of the "Sumud" flotilla to Gaza
September 30, 2025 at 8:08 PM
robbyref.bsky.social
Maybe there's even some good in the plan, yet it doesn't take into account the larger picture of the West Bank, Palestine, the future of the people under Israeli rule, utltimately it's whitewashing Israel. I hope peace for the people of Gaza and accountability for those who bear responsability
September 29, 2025 at 7:40 PM
robbyref.bsky.social
So far Trump has regurgitated tropes, like the conflict is tousands of years old, that Israel left Gaza to Hamas peacefully etc etc..he essentially stated no state for the Palestinians, and then, what is the plan?
September 29, 2025 at 6:44 PM
robbyref.bsky.social
Another @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social episode. I interviewed Elizabeth Imber discussing her latest book Uncertain Empire
Jews, Nationalism, and the Fate of British Imperialism published by @stanfordpress.bsky.social
newbooksnetwork.com/uncertain-em...
Elizabeth E. Imber, "Uncertain Empire: Jews, Nationalism, and the Fate of British Imperialism" (Stanford UP, 2025) - New Books Network
newbooksnetwork.com
September 27, 2025 at 8:16 PM
robbyref.bsky.social
latest interview for the @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social with Paris Papamichos discussing his new book on Saloniki @stanfordpress.bsky.social

newbooksnetwork.com/the-business...
Paris Papamichos Chronakis, "The Business of Transition: Jewish and Greek Merchants of Salonica from Ottoman to Greek Rule" (Stanford UP, 2024) - New Books Network
newbooksnetwork.com
September 26, 2025 at 12:37 PM
robbyref.bsky.social
The new episode of Jerusalem Unplugged with George Tsourous discussing boundaries within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is now out
@gorgiaspress.bsky.social

shows.acast.com/687ff289498a...
Orthodox Choreographies with Georgios Tsourous | Jerusalem Unplugged Podcast
shows.acast.com
September 25, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Reposted by Dr Roberto Mazza
heissenstat.bsky.social
Some wise advice on your academia.edu account.

It's probably time to delete it.
September 20, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Reposted by Dr Roberto Mazza
joelhs.bsky.social
The comparison of Israel to Sparta is literally what Hannah Arendt predicted would happen back in 1947.
Writing for Hannah Arendt: "And even if the Jews were to win the war, its end would find the unique possibilities and the unique achievements of Zionism in Palestine destroyed. The land that would come into being would be something quite other than the dream of world Jewry, Zionist and non-Zionist. The “victorious” Jews would live surrounded by an entirely hostile Arab population, secluded inside ever-threatened borders, absorbed with physical self-defense to a degree that would submerge all other interests and activities. The growth of a Jewish culture would cease to be the concern of the whole people; social experiments would have to be discarded as impractical luxuries; political thought would center around military strategy; economic development would be determined exclusively by the needs of war. And all this would be the fate of a nation that—no matter how many immigrants it could still absorb and how far it extended its boundaries (the whole of Palestine and Transjordan is the insane Revisionist demand)—would still remain a very small people greatly outnumbered by hostile neighbors. Under such circumstances (as Ernst Simon has pointed out) the Palestinian Jews would degenerate into one of those small warrior tribes about whose possibilities and importance history has amply informed us since the days of Sparta. Their relations with world Jewry would become problematical, since their defense interests might clash at any moment with those of other countries where large numbers of Jews lived. Palestine Jewry would eventually separate itself from the larger body of world Jewry and in its isolation develop into an entirely new people. Thus it becomes plain that at this moment and under present circumstances a Jewish state can only be erected at the price of the Jewish homeland."
September 15, 2025 at 7:09 PM
robbyref.bsky.social
www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-hi...
Why Historical Intelligence Is Your Strategic Advantage: The Case for Historical Consulting in Modern Decision-Making
In January 1990, when McDonald's opened its first restaurant in Moscow's Pushkin Square, 30,000 customers waited in sub-zero temperatures for their first taste of a Big Mac. For many Russians, this wa...
www.linkedin.com
September 12, 2025 at 3:35 PM
robbyref.bsky.social
We don't know yet anything about motivations, but given my experience teaching about conspiracy theories, I learned that at times those who are dissatisfied with something not happening may take a violent turn.
September 10, 2025 at 10:00 PM
robbyref.bsky.social
Right from around the corner! I don't understand, and maybe there is nothing to understand here.
wesleymorgan.bsky.social Wesley Morgan @wesleymorgan.bsky.social · Sep 9
IDF sniper from Chicago who says he killed Gazan teenager just for trying to retrieve his brother's corpse: “They’re thinking, ‘Oh I don’t think [I’ll get shot] because I’m wearing civilian clothes and I am not carrying a weapon' and all that, but they were wrong. That’s what you have snipers for.”
The Gaza family torn apart by IDF snipers from Chicago and Munich
Five-month investigation reveals how four members of one family were shot and killed in a single day and highlights a pattern in which Israeli troops target unarmed civilians
www.theguardian.com
September 9, 2025 at 7:38 PM
robbyref.bsky.social
Just launched my historical consulting site - turns out institutions and businesses actually need someone who can explain why history matters for modern strategy.

sites.google.com/view/histori...
Historical Consultancy
Dr. Roberto Mazza Historical Consultant & Middle East Scholar Translating centuries of knowledge into strategic advantage
sites.google.com
September 9, 2025 at 5:19 PM