Dr. David Spreen

Biography

David Spreen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at Harvard University, with a focus on modern Germany. His research delves into inter- and transnational entanglements, decolonization, and the global Cold War, as well as broad social and cultural transformations during the postcolonial period. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 2019 and previously held a Postdoctoral Fellow position at the Berlin Program for Advanced German and European Studies at Freie Universität. Currently, he is working on a book project that explores the impact of decolonization on cultures of radical protest, specifically focusing on Maoism in divided Germany. The project examines the various people's movements across national borders and highlights the transnational nature of 'German' Maoism in the 1970s, reflecting exchanges among students and workers from regions such as Iran, Palestine, Turkey, Southern Africa, and the Americas. His academic interests further include the histories of decolonization, global Cold War, political violence, and the history of the Left.

Research Interests