Balance and Expansion: The Journey to a New Takeoff

Abstract

Examining the trend in research over the past two years, political history still remains a main field, while cultural history has taken a new center position due to stable growth in the number of articles related to popular culture, immigration, race, and women. However, diplomatic history, military history, economic history, intellectual history, and labor history have been productive.BR In spite of the stagnation of research in some fields, it is positive is that the researches focusing on the period from the founding period of the nation to the mid-19th century are increasing, and thus, the era of research subjects is becoming more diversified and balanced. It is also important to note that new fields like medical history and environmental history have been established. As the traditional research fields also are embracing these new themes, the boundaries separating the fields have become unstable.BR This expansion is taking place not only in terms of subject matter but also in terms of methodology. Methodologies used to explore cultural history are now shared in various fields providing researchers with new perspectives. In addition, intersectionality, a theory on the understanding of interacting multiple social and cultural structures is spreading into diverse fields.BR However, the American historical community, which has continued to develop by accumulating various kinds of researches, is still facing challenges. Overcoming these challenges will help the American historical community advance into a new era.