The Uses and Abuses of History

1. History Shapes Our Understanding of Self and Others

We use history to understand ourselves, and we ought to use it to understand others.

Understanding Ourselves. History provides context for our individual and collective identities. Our personal histories, shaped by geography, time, social class, and family background, influence our perspectives and values. For example, growing up in a peaceful and prosperous environment versus a conflict-ridden one significantly impacts one's outlook on the world.

Understanding Others. Knowledge of history is crucial for comprehending the motivations and behaviors of different groups and nations. Understanding the historical grievances and triumphs of a particular group allows us to approach interactions with empathy and avoid causing pain or offense. For instance, understanding the historical context of French nationalism in Quebec, rooted in the British conquest of 1759, is essential for Canadians to grasp the passionate feelings of French nationalists.

Avoiding Assumptions. History teaches us that we cannot assume everyone shares the same experiences or perspectives. This is vital in personal relationships, business, and politics. By understanding the historical forces that have shaped different groups, we can navigate complex relationships with greater sensitivity and effectiveness.

2. History's Popularity Reflects a Need for Meaning

There is a thirst out there both for knowledge and to be entertained, and the market has responded with enthusiasm.

Market Forces. The increasing popularity of history is driven by a combination of factors, including higher education levels, more leisure time, and earlier retirement. People seek intellectual stimulation and entertainment beyond simple amusement. History provides both knowledge and compelling narratives.

Entertainment Value. History offers a vast reservoir of stories and characters that rival the best fiction. Figures like Augustus Caesar, Catherine the Great, Galileo, and Florence Nightingale are more compelling than any fictional creation. The market responds with enthusiasm, producing movies, documentaries, and books that cater to this demand.

Heritage and Commemoration. Governments and communities recognize the value of preserving and commemorating the past. Special departments are devoted to "heritage," encompassing language, customs, buildings, and traditions. This reflects a desire to connect with the past and transmit cultural treasures to future generations.

3. History Offers Simplicity and Escape

To begin with, it can offer simplicity when the present seems bewildering and chaotic.

Simplicity in Complexity. In a world that often feels chaotic and overwhelming, history can provide a sense of order and understanding. Historians have sought to discern grand patterns and overarching narratives that explain the past, offering a simplified view of complex events.

Escape from the Present. History can also serve as an escape from the present. When the world is changing rapidly and not necessarily for the better, people often look back to what they mistakenly perceive as a simpler and clearer time. This nostalgia can manifest in various forms, such as conservatives idealizing small-town life or leftists romanticizing the strength of the union movement.

The Allure of Heroes. The longing for heroes in a time of perceived moral decline contributes to the fascination with historical figures like Winston Churchill. These figures offer a sense of moral clarity and leadership that seems lacking in the present. Political leaders often invoke historical figures to bolster their own stature and legitimacy.

4. History as Judge and Moral Compass

In a secular world, which is what most of us in Europe and North America live in, history takes on the role of showing us good and evil, virtues and vices.

Moral Standards. In increasingly secular societies, history often fills the void left by religion in setting moral standards and transmitting values. It provides a framework for understanding good and evil, virtues and vices, and offers a sense of something beyond human beings.

Lessons and Mistakes. History serves as a judge, highlighting our mistakes by reminding us of those who faced similar problems and made different, perhaps better, decisions. It can also undermine claims of omniscience by leaders, exposing their errors and limitations.

Rewriting the Past. Dictators and authoritarian regimes often attempt to rewrite, deny, or destroy the past to maintain control and legitimacy. By controlling the narrative, they seek to erase alternative ways of organizing society and ensure their own immortality.

5. Apologies and Compensation: Setting the Past to Rights?

Our faith in history frequently spills over into wanting to set the past to rights through apologies and compensation for past actions.

Admitting Wrongdoing. There is a strong case for individuals and organizations admitting past wrongs and offering redress. Examples include Swiss banks compensating heirs of Jews whose wealth was confiscated by the Nazis, and governments compensating Japanese Americans and Canadians for illegitimate property seizures during World War II.

Political Expediency. Apologies can also serve political purposes. Queen Elizabeth's apologies to the Maori of New Zealand aimed to facilitate reconciliation and address historical injustices. However, such apologies can be seen as empty gestures if they are not accompanied by concrete actions to address present-day inequalities.

Truth and Reconciliation. The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission provides a model for societies grappling with past horrors. By granting amnesty to perpetrators and offering reparations to victims, it aimed to promote national unity and reconciliation. However, the effectiveness and fairness of such commissions remain subjects of debate.

6. The Dangers of Abandoning History to Amateurs

Political and other leaders too often get away with misusing or abusing history for their own ends because the rest of us do not know enough to challenge them.

Professional Historians' Role. Professional historians have a crucial role in raising public awareness of the past in all its richness and complexity. By contesting one-sided or false histories, they prevent leaders and opinion-makers from using history to bolster false claims and justify bad policies.

The Rise of Amateur History. The increasing specialization and obscurantism of academic history have led to a rise in amateur historians. While some amateur history is excellent, much of it is flawed, telling only part of complex stories, claiming knowledge it could not possibly have, and making sweeping generalizations without adequate evidence.

The Need for Nuance. Bad history often ignores nuances and complexities in favor of simplistic narratives that belong to morality plays. This can lead to wrong lessons and a distorted understanding of the past. Professional historians must not surrender their territory so easily and must continue to engage with the public.

7. History and Identity: Constructing "Us"

We obtain much of our identity from the communities into which we are born or to which we choose to belong.

Defining Identity. Identity is shaped by various factors, including gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, class, nationality, religion, family, geography, occupation, and history. These factors contribute to the ways we define ourselves and the communities to which we belong.

Imagined Communities. Benedict Anderson's concept of "imagined communities" describes groups like nations or religions that are so large that we can never know all the other members, yet which still draw our loyalties. History plays a key role in defining and enforcing these imagined communities.

Challenging Myths. National organizing myths are often challenged by regional ones, as seen in the American South's distinctive history after the Civil War. The white version of Southern history, which downplayed slavery and ignored its brutality, was challenged by the civil rights movement and the growing recognition of black history.

8. Nationalism: History's Dangerous Fuel

Nationalism brought Germany and Italy into being, destroyed Austria-Hungary, and, more recently, broke apart Yugoslavia.

The Power of Nationalism. Nationalism, the idea that we are part of a very large family or imagined community, has been a powerful force in shaping the modern world. It has created nations, destroyed empires, and led to countless conflicts.

History and Collective Memory. History provides much of the fuel for nationalism, creating the collective memories that help bring the nation into being. Shared celebrations of national achievements and shared sorrow at defeats sustain and foster national identity.

Inventing Traditions. Nationalists often invent or selectively interpret history and traditions to create a sense of continuity and shared identity. These invented traditions can be powerful tools for mobilizing populations and justifying political agendas.

9. History as a Weapon: Justifying Present Actions

We spin the events of the past to show that we always tend to behave well and our opponents badly or that we are normally right and others wrong.

Justifying Actions. Individuals and countries often use history to justify their present actions, portraying themselves as virtuous and their opponents as villainous. This can involve selective interpretation of events, distortion of facts, and the creation of self-serving narratives.

Shaming and Pressure. Countries also use episodes from the past to shame and put pressure on others. China, for example, repeatedly refers to the Century of Humiliation to justify its present-day policies and assert its claims to leadership in Asia.

Rewriting History. Authoritarian regimes often rewrite history to suit their political agendas. The Chinese Communist Party, for example, ensures that the public gets only one version of history, which emphasizes the Party's role in leading China to its present state.

10. History Wars: Battles Over What to Remember and Forget

History is about remembering the past, but it is also about choosing to forget.

Selective Memory. History is not simply about remembering the past; it is also about choosing what to remember and what to forget. These choices are often driven by present-day concerns and political agendas.

Textbook Controversies. School textbooks are often battlegrounds for competing interpretations of the past. Debates over what to include and exclude in textbooks reflect broader societal conflicts over values, identity, and national narratives.

Museums and Memorials. Museums and memorials also play a crucial role in shaping public memory. The ways in which they portray the past can be highly contested, as seen in the controversies surrounding the Enola Gay exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution and the bombing exhibit at Canada's War Museum.

11. History's Usefulness: A Guide for the Present

History, if it is used with care, can present us with alternatives, help us to form the questions we need to ask of the present, and warn us about what might go wrong.

Understanding Others. History helps us understand the values, fears, and hopes of other groups and nations. This understanding is crucial for effective diplomacy, conflict resolution, and building positive relationships.

Avoiding Generalizations. History can help us avoid lazy generalizations and stereotypes. By examining the complexities of the past, we can challenge simplistic narratives and develop a more nuanced understanding of the world.

Learning from Mistakes. History reminds us of the sorts of situations that have caused trouble in the past. By studying past mistakes, we can avoid repeating them and make more informed decisions in the present.

Last updated: February 9, 2025