WSC Social Studies Czar's Horses

Putin's Rebuilding of the Soviet Union

Vladimir Putin's efforts to restore Russia's global power and relevance after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Mussolini's Roman Empire Nostalgia

Benito Mussolini's use of nostalgia for the Roman Empire to appeal to Italians and promote his fascist vision of Italy.

Conservative Nostalgia in American History

The longing of conservative Americans for three specific periods in American history: the 1950s, the 1980s, and the election of Donald Trump in 2016.

Politicization of Nostalgia

The use of nostalgia by politicians to appeal to voters and create a sense of identity, often by painting an idealized image of the past and creating a division between "us" and "them."

British Luddites

A group of people in 19th century Britain who protested against the industrial revolution by destroying machines, particularly in the textile industry, in order to protect traditional craftsmanship and workers' rights.

Logan Lane and the Luddite Club

Logan Lane's decision to give up smartphones and start a club with other teenagers to engage in offline activities and escape the influence of social media.

Mennonites in Belize

A group of Canadian Mennonites who immigrated to Belize in the 1950s to establish a closed Christian community and live a traditional lifestyle without relying heavily on technology.

Nostalgia

A feeling of longing for a past time or period, often idealized and romanticized.

Mussolini's strategy to make Italy fascist

Mussolini used nostalgia for the Roman empire and appealed to the citizens' desire to be as powerful as the empire to make Italy fascist. He used symbols such as the Fasces, which was a symbol for the Roman empire's military power.

Fasces

A symbol used by Mussolini to appeal to the citizens' nostalgia for the Roman empire's military power.

Prospect Park

A park in New York where the Luddite Club meets every Sunday to do screen-free activities.

Luddite

Originally referred to the Luddists, but now generally means someone who hates technology or is clumsy with technology.

Ottoman Empire Nostalgia

A sense of longing for the Ottoman Empire, which was a powerful Islamic state that existed from the 14th century until the end of World War I and is often idealized as a time of prosperity and unity.

Ottoman nostalgia

A sentiment of longing or affection for the Ottoman Empire, often used in Turkish politics to direct resentment towards the Kemalist ruling power. The author's survey found that people prefer Ottoman nostalgia over Kemalist nostalgia, as it has a stronger historical foundation. However, the author warns that nostalgia can be washed away from bad memories and that it's important to focus on the future rather than the past.

Little Belize, Indian Creek, and Shipyard

Three Mennonite towns in Belize where the community lives in a closed Christian society and does not rely on modern technology.

Nostalgia

A feeling of longing for a past time or era, often idealized and viewed through rose-colored glasses.

Flip Phone

A mobile phone with a small screen and physical keypad, used by some members of the Luddite Club as an alternative to smartphones.

Logan Lane

A teenager from New York who realized that social media apps consumed her life and started a club called "the luddite club" with Jameson Butler.