Maarten van Rossem
Encyclopedia
Maarten van Rossem is a Dutch
historian
. He specializes in the history and politics of the United States. As an America expert he is a frequent guest on television
talk shows.
His public career started when he was asked to comment on the 1984 vice presidential elections. He still makes regular TV appearances and gives frequent public lectures.
. In his youth he became fascinated with the United States through a visit from his three American cousins. When they came to visit his parents, they each had their own photo camera with them. This baffled him, thinking all Americans were that rich.
He attended the grammar school of Wageningen, graduating in the exact sciences. Initially he studied pharmacology
at Utrecht University
, because of his high marks for chemistry. Because he disliked the subject, he secretly switched to studying history
. His family opposed this decision, stating that this would only lead to unemployment.
Being a student in the sixties
, he was expected to be left and radical, but Maarten doesn't concern himself with that. He thought it very unlikely that there would be a revolutionary revolt against capitalism
. Despite being brought up in a liberal
environment, he joins the labour party
in 1967.
He continues to be intrigued by the United States, collecting newspaper clippings on Martin Luther King, president Kennedy
and the Chicago riots
.
After eight years he graduates Cum laude. He writes his doctoral thesis about the historiography
of the Cold war
with Hermann von der Dunk as his thesis advisor. Through his thesis he discovers the joys of writing. 'You can say that at that point I became a historian'.
His postgraduate
thesis on the Partisan Review
was also counseled by Von der Dunk, who allowed him to change the subject twice. 'He probably thought it important for my development'. Financially this was only made possible because he was made a research assistant
and because of the well paying job of his wife. It takes him twelve years to finish it.
Only a year later, in 1984, he publishes his best known book The United States in the 20th century (Dutch title: De Verenigde Staten in de Twintigste Eeuw). This gets him invited to speak on television
about the vice presidential elections. He thoroughly enjoys being able to speak about his interests. Since then he is often invited to speak, though he is also often criticized for being too cynical
.
In 1996 he gets appointed as professor
of modern history at the Utrecht University. At that point he had been turned down twice for the position of professor of American studies
. This he attributes to his lack of interest in the bureaucracy
of the university. This appointment allows him to speak on a wider range of subjects.
. The two develop a friendship despite their differing political views. Maarten was invited to speak at the cremation after Van Gogh was murdered in November 2004. In this speech he tried to be more moderate than the - in his eyes - hysterical media.
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
. He specializes in the history and politics of the United States. As an America expert he is a frequent guest on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
talk shows.
His public career started when he was asked to comment on the 1984 vice presidential elections. He still makes regular TV appearances and gives frequent public lectures.
Biography
Van Rossem grew up in the city of WageningenWageningen
' is a municipality and a historical town in the central Netherlands, in the province of Gelderland. It is famous for Wageningen University, which specializes in life sciences. The city has 37,414 inhabitants , of which many thousands are students...
. In his youth he became fascinated with the United States through a visit from his three American cousins. When they came to visit his parents, they each had their own photo camera with them. This baffled him, thinking all Americans were that rich.
He attended the grammar school of Wageningen, graduating in the exact sciences. Initially he studied pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
at Utrecht University
Utrecht University
Utrecht University is a university in Utrecht, Netherlands. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. Established March 26, 1636, it had an enrollment of 29,082 students in 2008, and employed 8,614 faculty and staff, 570 of which are full professors....
, because of his high marks for chemistry. Because he disliked the subject, he secretly switched to studying history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. His family opposed this decision, stating that this would only lead to unemployment.
Being a student in the sixties
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
, he was expected to be left and radical, but Maarten doesn't concern himself with that. He thought it very unlikely that there would be a revolutionary revolt against capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
. Despite being brought up in a liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
environment, he joins the labour party
Labour Party (Netherlands)
The Labour Party , is a social-democratic political party in the Netherlands. Since the 2003 Dutch General Election, the PvdA has been the second largest political party in the Netherlands. The PvdA was a coalition member in the fourth Balkenende cabinet following 22 February 2007...
in 1967.
He continues to be intrigued by the United States, collecting newspaper clippings on Martin Luther King, president Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
and the Chicago riots
1968 Chicago riots
The 1968 Chicago riots were sparked by the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was shot while standing on the balcony of his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968 at 6:01 pm. Violence and chaos followed, with blacks flooding out onto the streets of major...
.
After eight years he graduates Cum laude. He writes his doctoral thesis about the historiography
Historiography
Historiography refers either to the study of the history and methodology of history as a discipline, or to a body of historical work on a specialized topic...
of the Cold war
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
with Hermann von der Dunk as his thesis advisor. Through his thesis he discovers the joys of writing. 'You can say that at that point I became a historian'.
His postgraduate
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
thesis on the Partisan Review
Partisan Review
Partisan Review was an American political and literary quarterly published from 1934 to 2003, though it suspended publication between October 1936 and December 1937.-Overview:...
was also counseled by Von der Dunk, who allowed him to change the subject twice. 'He probably thought it important for my development'. Financially this was only made possible because he was made a research assistant
Research assistant
A research assistant is a researcher employed, often on a temporary contract, by a university or a research institute, for the purpose of assisting in academic research...
and because of the well paying job of his wife. It takes him twelve years to finish it.
Only a year later, in 1984, he publishes his best known book The United States in the 20th century (Dutch title: De Verenigde Staten in de Twintigste Eeuw). This gets him invited to speak on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
about the vice presidential elections. He thoroughly enjoys being able to speak about his interests. Since then he is often invited to speak, though he is also often criticized for being too cynical
Cynicism (contemporary)
Cynicism is an attitude or state of mind characterized by a general distrust of other's apparent motives, or a general lack of faith or hope in the human race. It is a form of jaded negativity, and other times, realistic criticism or skepticism...
.
In 1996 he gets appointed as professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of modern history at the Utrecht University. At that point he had been turned down twice for the position of professor of American studies
American studies
American studies or American civilization is an interdisciplinary field dealing with the study of the United States. It traditionally incorporates the study of history, literature, and critical theory, but also includes fields as diverse as law, art, the media, film, religious studies, urban...
. This he attributes to his lack of interest in the bureaucracy
Bureaucracy
A bureaucracy is an organization of non-elected officials of a governmental or organization who implement the rules, laws, and functions of their institution, and are occasionally characterized by officialism and red tape.-Weberian bureaucracy:...
of the university. This appointment allows him to speak on a wider range of subjects.
Theo van Gogh
Through frequent interviews Van Rossem gets to know the columnist and film director Theo van GoghTheo van Gogh (film director)
Theodoor "Theo" van Gogh was a Dutch film director, film producer, columnist, author and actor.Van Gogh worked with the Somali-born writer Ayaan Hirsi Ali to produce the film Submission, which criticized the treatment of women in Islam and aroused controversy among Muslims...
. The two develop a friendship despite their differing political views. Maarten was invited to speak at the cremation after Van Gogh was murdered in November 2004. In this speech he tried to be more moderate than the - in his eyes - hysterical media.