Jonathan Ng
Assistant Professor
Jonathan Ng is a scholar of twentieth-century US history. His research and teaching focus on how war has shaped domestic politics, international relations, and the global economy.
Currently, Ng is writing a book titled, The Unquenchable Fire: The Arms Trade and Reproduction of the US Empire, 1960-1992, which is under advance contract with University of Pennsylvania Press. His study examines how government and corporate leaders promoted arms sales to sustain both the military-industrial complex and national influence after the Vietnam War. Drawing on archives across continents, he argues that the arms trade became a pillar of US grand strategy, as policy makers boosted exports to rescue struggling corporations, address major economic crises, and outsource military operations to foreign clients.
Ng received his Ph.D. in US history from Northwestern University in 2021, before assuming fellowships at the University of Tulsa, Southern Methodist University, and Dartmouth College. A passionate educator, he teaches classes on US politics, foreign policy, militarization, and other related themes. He also has contributed articles to both popular and scholarly journals such as the Emancipator, Truthout, NACLA, and Diplomatic History, and he hopes that his work will help the public better understand the enduring costs of war.
Education
Ph.D. in History, Northwestern University, 2021
B.A. in History, University of Oregon, 2013
Research Interests
US Foreign Relations
Militarization
Political Economy
Imperialism/Colonialism
Social Movements
Classes Taught
US History From the Outside
US History Since 1960
US Foreign Relations, 1898-Present
War in US Politics and Society, 1940-Present