'The tiger in the grass: The merits of applied history'

There is now a growing debate about the concept of 'Applied History' - how far, and in what ways, the lessons of the past might be utilised to improve policymaking on present and future challenges. This remains a subject of controversy within the academy, and those who make the case for Applied History have sometimes been accused of 'presentism' and 'going beyond the documents'. Yet Applied History connects to a much older vision of history, one in which the past offers entry to - in the words of John Robert Seeley - a unique 'school of statesmanship'.

In this paper, Robert Crowcroft will highlight the ways in which a historical cast of mind can stimulate the imagination and provoke bold thinking. While there are important limitations to using the past in this way, nevertheless history stands in close relation to practical life.

Robert will be joined by a panel consisting of Andrew Ehrhardt (King's College London), Tereza Valny (University of Edinburgh) and David Kaufman (University of Edinburgh). The event is free and open to all.

Dr Robert Crowcroft's staff profile

Dr Tereza Valny's staff profile

Dr David Kaufman's staff profile

(Image: 'Surprised!' by Henri Rousseau, 1891. The National Gallery)