The Persistence of the Past
The triumph of liberal democracy was supposed to herald an end to history. But it has returned with a vengeance, says Tim Stanley.
Last year was an annus horribilis for the West. The economies of Ireland, Portugal, Greece and Italy collapsed under the weight of public debt; the Eurozone contemplated break up; anarchists occupied Wall Street; and Britain was gripped by urban riots. It was against this backdrop that History Today co-sponsored a conference held in November on the subject of ‘History: What is it Good For?’ Questions that came up were what use are historical studies at a time of crisis? Can historians offer the public words of comfort or suggest a way out of this mess?
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