Tag Archives: World History

Rewriting history: Russia’s invention of an alternative Chernobyl story

Posted on August 4, 2020 by

It was a real pleasure to see the TV drama Chernobyl pick up a number of BAFTA 2020 TV awards last Friday, including one for Jared Harris, one of the lead actors in the series. The drama was arguably one … Continue reading →

Posted in Conspiracy theory, European History, History skills, London history, Media history, Public History, Russian History, Teaching, Uncategorized, World History | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Clement Attlee and the Secret State: Recent evidence from British archives

Posted on July 27, 2020 by

As we recall the surprise election of Clement Attlee as Britain’s Prime Minister 75 years ago this summer, and his role in reconstructing Britain after the war, it is a good moment to also consider recent evidence on the more … Continue reading →

Posted in Archives, British history, European History, Historiography, Public History, Russian History, Secret State, Teaching, The National Archives, Uncategorized, World History | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How a conspiracy theory bit the dust: Hess was indeed Hess

Posted on July 25, 2020 by

One of the big challenges for professional historians in recent years has been the worrying growth of conspiracy theory. Highly questionable claims with no empirical evidence often spread like wild-fire across the internet and, disturbingly for scholars, are regularly taken … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Conspiracy theory, European History, Fascism, German History, History skills, Media history, Public History, Research, Teaching, Uncategorized, World History | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Spies and Lies: Another look at the Kim Philby story

Posted on July 15, 2020 by

The news that a major new television drama will be produced about the life of Kim Philby, the British Intelligence officer who engaged in treachery, will come as no surprise to historians of the secret state. The new production, A … Continue reading →

Posted in Archives, British history, European History, Public History, Research, Russian History, Secret State, The National Archives, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Trump and Johnson: Two peas from the same populist pod?

Posted on July 7, 2020 by

Historians will have much to write about when they look back on current affairs in Britain and America, and the rightwing brand of ‘identity’ politics will be a major aspect of this. When it comes to the negative impact of … Continue reading →

Posted in American history, British history, European History, Historiography, Media history, Public History, Research, Teaching, Uncategorized, World History | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Past and Present: Why studying History tells us who we really are

Posted on June 24, 2020 by

In 2017 the historian Sir David Cannadine, in his capacity as president of the British Academy, made a strong and very welcome defence of the study of his subject, pointing out that the academic investigation of the past is necessary … Continue reading →

Posted in British Empire, British history, European History, History skills, Media history, Public History, Research, Study Skills, Teaching, Uncategorized, World History | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Year of Upheaval: ‘Red’ 1920 in retrospect

Posted on June 23, 2020 by

It is often assumed that when the Armistice was signed in November, 1918, the world entered a period of relative peace. Yet, as a number of historians have pointed out, the following year – 1919 – proved to be a … Continue reading →

Posted in American history, British history, European History, Fascism, French History, German History, London history, Public History, Research, Russian History, World History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Secret Heroism: Remembering the ‘listeners’ of Bletchley Park

Posted on June 11, 2020 by

As we recall the end of the war in Europe 75 years ago, in May, 1945, and remember the eventual end of full hostilities in the Far East a few months later in August, 1945, it is also worth reminding … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, European History, Fascism, Gender History, German History, History skills, Local History, Media history, Museums, Public History, Research, Secret State, Uncategorized, World History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

No Act of Contrition: Truth, Justice and Peace in Northern Ireland

Posted on May 4, 2020 by

Pat Finucane was a prominent Belfast solicitor noted for his success in defending republicans, including Gerry Adams, in Northern Ireland courts. In fact, so successful was Mr. Finucane that a whispering campaign insinuated that he was a member of the … Continue reading →

Posted in British Empire, British history, European History, Irish History, Public History, Research, Secret State, Uncategorized, World History | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

From Russia With Hate: Looking back on Pamyat and other neo-fascists

Posted on April 26, 2020 by

Many moons ago, during the early 1990s, and not long after the surprise collapse of the Berlin Wall and Eastern Bloc Communism, I became increasingly interested in the emergence of far right groups in post-Soviet Russia, and – as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Conspiracy theory, European History, Fascism, German History, Public History, Research, Russian History, Teaching, Uncategorized, World History | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment