Against the Grain

The Iraq War’s Impact on Public Health

War takes lives, but it also wreaks havoc on people’s health and well-being in other ways. Riyadh Lafta has done groundbreaking research on the public health consequences of the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq and its aftermath. Among other things, he’s investigated the situation of internally displaced persons, the psychological consequences of witnessing violence, and … Continued


While much of the public is still reeling over the election of Donald Trump, the power of his appeal may be less surprising than we think, given America’s long history of right-wing populism and the contradictions of liberalism. Steve Fraser traces the history of the notion of the limousine liberal, central to right-wing populism and … Continued


The overtly racist politics of Donald Trump has been called unprecedented — a break from the Republican Party’s past rules of engagement.  But a look backward, particularly at the GOP’s Southern Strategy to woo white voters based on segregationist or racist appeals, indicates how inaccurate that assumption is. Edward H. Miller discusses the origins of … Continued


Is the white working class a group of bigots?  They’re the backbone of Donald Trump’s support, we’re told by the mainstream media, although it’s not clear if that’s actually true.  Within the left, as well as the mainstream, there frequently is an assumption that white workers, particularly provincial white workers, are almost inherently reactionary—and that … Continued


Against the Grain

The Academic Boycott of Israel

What role does the U.S. academic boycott of Israel play in the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement? What kinds of resistance has the boycott movement encountered, and what’s happened to the academic freedom and human rights of Palestinian scholars and students? Sunaina Maira helped launch the U.S. academic and cultural boycott initiative.   Dawson … Continued