Nicholas Ostrum

Nicholas Ostrum is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at Kent State University. His research focuses on postwar German energy, development, and trade policies, particularly their intersections with the Global South. He is currently completing a manuscript titled The Black Chimera: West Germany and the Scramble for Arab Oil, 1957-1974, examining West Germany's petro-diplomacy with Syria, Libya, and Nigeria. His work bridges economic history, political relations, and geopolitical strategy in the mid-20th century.

Teaching interests include Cold War history, Nazi Germany, the Holocaust, American history, and world civilizations. Courses taught at Kent State include World History surveys and graduate seminars on Energy in the Twentieth Century World.

Recent publications analyze West German-Libyan petro-relations and postcolonial trade dynamics. His research highlights non-military interdependencies between West Germany and resource-rich states, emphasizing economic rationality, political motivations, and global energy networks.

Advising and grant activities are not explicitly detailed in the provided information. The Department of History is located at Kent State’s main campus in Ohio, with administrative contacts available via email and phone.