Fritz Bodo and Dr. Josef Breu, Atlas of the Burgenland, 1941 (David Rumsey Map Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
Advocacy
The World History Association has represented its members in the arena of discourse on current events, threats to the teaching of truly global and world history, and challenges to the discipline and profession.
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In recent years, we have issued a number of resolutions that have responded to members' interest in our taking a strong, active position on particular issues. We have also signed onto resolutions and letters initiated by our peer institutions to make sure that the World History Association's voice is heard.
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RECENT ADVOCACY INITIATIVES
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​At the invitation of our fellow ACLS partner, the American Philosophical Association, the World History Association joined with other professional societies to sign onto a letter to the governor of Oklahoma regarding threats to tenure at Oklahoma's public regional universities and community colleges. The letter was submitted on March 25, 2026.
Thanks to one of our members, the World History Association was urged to issue a resolution opposing legislation in the Texas state legislature that redefined how world history would be taught in that state. This resolution was approved by a vote of the membership in February 2026.
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In December 2025, the World History Association, along with 17 peer associations and societies, signed onto an amicus brief in support of Harvard College's suit against the United States Department of Homeland Security regarding the University's right to host foreign scholars. The ability of the WHA to invite foreign scholars to attend WHA conferences held in the United States and be present in person to deliver talks and participate in conference discussions and panels has been affected by the government's action.
At the 2025 American Historical Association annual meeting, members voted strongly in favor of a resolution condemning Scholasticide in Gaza that had been initiated by the Historians for Peace and Democracy. Despite that vote, the AHA Council vetoed the resolution. In the wake of that decision, the World History Association voted on the resolution, strongly supporting it. At the American Historical Association annual meeting in Chicago in 2026, a vote on the resolution by the AHA membership was held once again. Again, the membership supported it strongly but the Council once again chose to veto it.
In 2019, the WHA joined with other professional societies to speak out against dramatic cuts to higher education funding in Alaska. In a joint letter to Alaska's governor, representatives, and senators, the coalition of organizations urged Alaska's state leadership to reconsider these cuts.
If you are a member of the World History Association and you would like the association to consider taking a particular position on an issue, please reach out to any member of the Executive Board. We welcome your interest in advocating for important issues and challenges facing our profession.