WINTER LECTURE SERIES 2026

Global Perspectives: America First - Then and Now

In person and livestream • 3:00 PM • February 8 & 15, March 1 & 8
In the United States in the past there was an American First Committee, highly active before the Second World War. It was popular especially in the interior of the country. Its two major themes were isolationism, or commitment to fortress America, and anti-Semitism, or anti-foreign sentiment especially focused on Jews who were seen as un-American.  

As Donald J. Trump moved from the business world to that of politics, he resurrected the slogan of “America First”.  Many of his supporters seemed to be isolationists or something similar.  They seemed to particularly dislike “forever wars” in Vietnam and Afghanistan, as well as foreign aid and entangling alliances. Likewise, many of his followers appeared to be nativists (prioritizing the native born, especially White Christians) and critical of the growing number of foreigners seeking entry to the United States.  

The question of anti-Semitism and Donald Trump is a much more complex topic than anti-Semitism in the days of the American First Committee involving Charles Lindbergh and Henry Ford. This series examines the similarities and differences in the America First movements, then and now. It also considers relevant linked issues such as increased tariffs in trade, arguably designed to prioritize American economic interests.


Sunday, February 8
LIVESTREAM LINK
3:00 – 4:30 PM
Sean Trundle, UNL associate professor of practice, History, will give a historical introduction to the topic.​
Sean Trundle, UNL History, has his Ph.D. from the U. of Hawaii-Manoa. His primary focus is US cultural history. Among his particular interests are digital developments and most other aspects of modern American history post-civil war.

Sunday, February 15
LIVESTREAM LINK
3:00 – 4:30 PM
Uche Jarrett, UNL associate professor of practice, Economics, will analyze the leading economic issues today for the US concerning national growth, trade, and tariffs in historical perspective.
Uchechukwu Jarrett, UNL Economics, has his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His primary interests are US economic growth, development, and trade. He has special interests in energy and environmental economics. Risk and trade is a special focus.

Sunday, March 1
LIVESTREAM LINK
3:00 – 4:30 PM
Emira Ibrahimpasic, UNL associate professor of practice in Global Studies, and Julia Reilly, UNL assistant professor of practice in Global Studies and Human Rights, will address the leading social issues stemming from the America First theme, especially immigration and deportations.
Emira Ibrahimpasic has her Ph.D. from the U. of New Mexico. Trained in Anthropology, she has broad interests including women’s studies, global studies, and colonialism and its aftermath, including attention to the Islamic world. Her current interests focus on refugees.
Julia Reilly has her Ph.D. from UNL. With an orientation toward politics and human rights, she is especially interested in accountability for human rights violations, with special attention to both the end of civil wars and genocide. She is currently interested in refugee resettlement in the American Midwest.
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Sunday, March 8
LIVESTREAM LINK
3:00 – 4:30 PM
David Forsythe, UNL emeritus professor of Political Science, will discuss Trump’s foreign policy in historical perspective, including isolationism, unilateralism, and Israel.
David Forsythe has his Ph.D. from Princeton. He is a long-time analyst of international human rights and humanitarian affairs. His recent interests focus on the role of the International Red Cross in conflicts like Gaza and Ukraine.
 

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