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Volume 37
Making Sense of History
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The Engaged Historian
Perspectives on the Intersections of Politics, Activism and the Historical Profession
Edited by Stefan Berger
Afterword by Georg G. Iggers
322 pages, 24 illus., bibliog., index
ISBN 978-1-78920-199-4 $135.00/£99.00 Hb Published (April 2019)
eISBN 978-1-78920-200-7 eBook
Reviews
“This collection of essays succeeds wonderfully well in revealing and analyzing the intellectual and actual challenges facing historians as they enter public affairs. It is a fitting addition to the literature on public intellectuals available to contemporary readers.” • James M. Banner, Jr., historian and author of Being a Historian: An Introduction to the Professional World of History
“This book is incredibly timely, given the current state of politics in the world, and the pressure on historians to become more engaged in conflicts of the day. The Engaged Historian is essential reading for every historian trying to negotiate their role as an engaged citizen.” • Robert B. Townsend, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Description
On the surface, historical scholarship might seem thoroughly incompatible with political engagement: the ideal historian, many imagine, is a disinterested observer focused exclusively on the past. In truth, however, political action and historical research have been deeply intertwined for as long as the historical profession has existed. In this insightful collection, practicing historians analyze, reflect on, and share their experiences of this complex relationship. From the influence of historical scholarship on world political leaders to the present-day participation of researchers in post-conflict societies and the Occupy movement, these studies afford distinctive, humane, and stimulating views on historical practice and practitioners
Stefan Berger has directed the Institute for Social Movements at the Ruhr University Bochum and served as the Chairman of the History of the Ruhr Foundation since 2011. Since 2016 he has been Honorary Professor at Cardiff University in the UK. Previously he held the position of Professor of Modern German and Comparative European History at the University of Manchester.