Democratising History

An exploration of the intersections of politics and public engagement, Democratising History reveals how history itself has been shaped by democratic forces.

How has democracy transformed modern Britain and the way we teach its history? Democratising History answers this question by showcasing how scholars have successfully united social and cultural histories of democracy in British history. Nine research-led chapters provide an 'inside' perspective on democracy in modern British history, covering the complex relationship between Britain and its Empire, the democratisation of metropolitan culture, and how experts aimed to inform public debate in a changing democratic society. An 'outside' perspective is brought by six interludes that engage with the democratising forces at work in the twenty-first-century academy that are reshaping the profession, and thus the histories that scholars produce. In bringing these two histories of democracy together within a single conceptual framework, this book narrates an important shift in the landscape of UK higher education from the 'inside' and the 'outside', insisting that professional and intellectual changes must be seen alongside one another. Collectively, this volume responds to the scholarly and professional contributions of Peter Mandler, whose sensitive readings of cultural discourses and their social reach has inspired a generation of modern British historians. Through novel methods, insightful case studies and broader reflections on the profession, it shows how modern British history is being transformed by these questions and wider social and economic changes in contemporary Britain.