History & Policy works for better public policy through an understanding of history by connecting historians, policy makers and the media. We believe study of the past can offer important lessons for the 21st century.
We are the only project in the UK providing access to an international network of almost 400 historians with a broad range of expertise. H&P offers a range of resources for historians, policy makers and journalists. These include policy papers and opinion pieces.
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Thatcher's historical legacy
20 May 2013
Like that of Margaret Thatcher, assessments of Sir Robert Peel's legacy have blown with the prevailing political wind. Charles Read explores what the many interpretations and reinterpretations of Peel's legacy, tell us about how Thatcher may come to be viewed by historians.
Read Charles Read's article: Will Thatcher's historical legacy, like Robert Peel's, U-turn from beyond the grave?
History & Policy lecture series at Gresham College
4, 11 and 18 June 2013
Three leading members of the H&P Network will give public lectures at Gresham College in June as part of a special History & Policy series, at 6pm on consecutive Tuesdays:
Prof David Reynolds of Christ's College, Cambridge, will speak about Summit diplomacy: some lessons from history for 21st Century leaders (4 June)
Dr Paul Warde of UEA will discuss Choosing a Past for the Future: Why today's environment policy is also history (but doesn't know it) (11 June)
H&P co-founder Prof Simon Szreter of St John's College, Cambridge, will explore What have Henry VIII and Elizabeth I got to do with 21st century development policy? (18 June)
Entry to all Gresham College events is on a first-come, first-served basis, so please arrive in good time. Visit the Gresham College website for further information and directions.
See also the speakers' previous History & Policy papers: David Reynolds: The Prime Minister as world statesman, Paul Warde: Low carbon futures and high carbon pasts: policy challenges in historical perspective, Simon Szreter: The right of registration: development, identity registration and social security
Coalition governments:'always unpopular and seldom lasted long'?
10 May 2013
In 1886 Liberal Unionist Lord Derby said coalition governments 'were always unpopular and seldom lasted long.' On the eve of the third anniversary of the current Coalition Government, Ian Cawood, of Newman University, assesses the performance, politics and popularity of the six previous coalition governments in the last 120 years - and the implications for relations between the parties in coalition today.
Read the opinion piece: Coalition governments:'always unpopular and seldom lasted long'?
Read the policy paper: Liberal-Conservative Coalitions -'a farce and a fraud'?
Please note: Cartoons courtesy of King's College London and Martin Rowson.