"History provides no automatic system of navigation for our leaders. Knowledge of history does not change politicians into statesmen. But ignorance of history is foolishness. The most dangerous form of ignorance is that smidgeon of shallow knowledge which lacks any understanding of the characters or context of past decisions."
Lord Douglas Hurd, 'Choose Your Weapons'
History & Policy works for better public policy through an understanding of history. See what we do and who we are.
History & Policy website
This site has a range of resources for historians, policymakers and media:
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History & Policy office move
In August 2010, the History & Policy external relations office will move to King's College London, along with our colleagues from the Centre for Contemporary British History.
The MA in Contemporary British History will be delivered at King's from autumn 2010 and will include two new History & Policy options. For full details see below.
The H&P office will be closed from Monday 12 July to Monday 30 August 2010 while the move takes place. We will publish our new contact details as soon as possible.
History & Policy job opportunity
H&P is seeking an experienced and confident communicator as its External Relations Manager from September 2010 to August 2011 (maternity cover). This is a rare opportunity to join a thriving and innovative project.
For full details, please see the King's College website. The closing date for applications is 15 July 2010.
For further information about the post, please contact Mel Porter.
Latest news
Afghanistan's armies, past and present
H&P paper, 8 July 2010
As General Petraeus takes over as Commander of US forces in Afghanistan and British troops withdraw from the Sangin region, a new H&P paper explores the challenge of creating and maintaining an Afghan national army. Stephanie Cronin of Oxford University examines previous attempts at state-building and army reform from the nineteenth century to the Soviet era and the present day. She argues that unless NATO changes its strategy, it will continue to repeat the mistakes of the past. This paper is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand why the Afghan mission remains so intractable and continues to cost so many lives.
Read the paper: Afghanistan's armies, past and present.
Working with select committees
H&P resource, 8 July 2010
As part of a secondment with H&P, Dr David Turner, Committee Specialist at the Health Select Committee, has prepared a guide for historians on working with select committees. This is now available to download from our resources section and will be of use to any historian wanting to get involved in the work of select committees. Since 2006, H&P has worked with historians to provide written evidence to seven select committee inquiries and has facilitated oral evidence by a historian to one further inquiry.
Download Dr Turner's paper here [pdf file, 66kb].
Read previous H&P submissions to select committees here.
Co-operation in politics is hardly a new idea
Interview, July 2010
In our latest collaborative feature with BBC History Magazine, Chris Bowlby talks to Matthew Francis about the tradition of co-operatives and mutualism in British politics.
Read the article. Other articles from the series can be found in our BBC History section.
Lessons from Victorian information policy
H&P paper, 30 June 2010
In a new H&P paper, Toni Weller of De Montfort University traces the development of information policy in the UK since the nineteenth century. She argues that current government plans to roll back the 'information state' would benefit from an understanding of decentralised Victorian approaches to information policy.
Read the paper: The Victorian information age: nineteenth century answers to today's information policy questions?.
The scandal of maternal death rates in history and policy
Opinion, 27 June 2010
In an article published by the Guardian online, H&P historian Graham Mooney of John Hopkins University queries the Prime Minister's claim that the Conservative-Liberal government of the mid-1930s ended the scandal of maternal death rates in Britain. He argues that a complex array of factors contributed to the decline in death rates and urges world leaders at the G8 and G20 summits to learn the real lessons from Britain's historical experience as they design policy for the developing world today.
Read the article.
Historian key witness in trial of white supremacists
Interview, 24 June 2010
H&P historian Matthew Feldman of Northampton University has commented on the recent conviction of two members of the neo-Nazi group Aryan Strike Force for inciting racial hatred. He gave expert evidence during the trial of Trevor Hannington from South Wales and Michael Heaton from Lancashire.
Read Matthew's interview with Channel 4 News and his comments in the Jewish Chronicle.
Democratic access to academic knowledge
Opinion, 23 June 2010
In an article for openDemocracy, H&P historian Fay Bound Alberti calls on the government to reform access to publicly-funded academic research. She argues that with a simple change to copyright law, UK Research Councils could make public access a condition of funding. Fay is Senior Research Fellow at Queen Mary, University of London and senior policy advisor to H&P's co-funder Arcadia.
Read the article.
History offers no route-map: these spending cuts have no precedent
Rapid response, 22 June 2010
Glen O'Hara compares the public spending cuts announced in the budget with previous periods of spending restraint - the 'Geddes Axe' of 1922-23, the years following the IMF loan of 1976, and the Conservatives' deficit reduction in the early 1990s.
Read the article.
The 'Big Society' and the state
H&P paper, 22 June 2010
Matthew Hilton, James McKay, Nicholas Crowson and Jean-Francois Mouhot of Birmingham University explore the history of civic participation and voluntary action in Britain, drawing lessons for the government's 'Big Society' agenda. This is based on a paper prepared for a H&P seminar with the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit, attended by seven historians in the H&P Network.
Read the paper: 'The Big Society': civic participation and the state in modern Britain.
You can also read the other papers prepared for the Strategy Unit on our resources page.
What's a 'back office' for? The case of policing
Opinion, 22 June 2010
Police historian Chris A. Williams examines the role of 'back office' staff in the police, explaining why they were introduced and what could happen if cuts go too far. Read the article.
Austerity was a hard sell in the 40s. Today it's harder still
Comment, 22 June 2010
Historian David Kynaston outlines lessons from the age of austerity in today's Guardian, arguing that postwar cohesion came from a sense of shared purpose, a sense of equity of sacrifice, and faith in leadership. Read the article.
Baby Boomers not to blame says historian
Interview, 21 June 2010
H&P co-founder Pat Thane was interviewed for BBC Radio 4's Analysis programme 'Baby Boomers on Trial', which examines the idea that the generation born during the postwar boom have 'squandered the inheritance their prudent parents left them and [left] little behind for their own children'. Hear the programme: Baby Boomers on Trial.
New History & Policy MA options launched
New course, 16 June 2010
From September 2010, two new History & Policy MA options will enable students to explore how history can inform key areas of current policy and how to communicate their work to policy audiences. The MA in Contemporary British History will be offered at King's College London, including the new options: 'policymaking under pressure' and 'long-term policy problems'. The course is aimed at anyone seeking a history MA with a unique and contemporary twist that is clearly relevant and applicable to the present. H&P co-managers Pat Thane and Richard Roberts will be among those teaching the options, along with H&P staff.
For full details of the new options, see the Centre for Contemporary British History website or click here to see full details of the MA on the King's College website.
The power of the Prime Minister
H&P Paper, 9 June 2010
Andrew Blick and George Jones examine the idea that the Prime Minister's personal power has increased in recent years. They question the evidence that a UK 'presidency' has developed and explore the implications for the coalition government.
Read the paper: The power of the Prime Minister
Has Britain always united behind commemorations of the war dead?
Interview, June 2010
In our latest collaborative feature with BBC History Magazine, Chris Bowlby talks to Lucy Noakes about the history of war commemoration, and finds that it has caused division as well as unity.
Read the article. Other articles from the series can be found in our BBC History section.