Speakers: Professor David Armitage, Dr Jo Guldi, Professor Simon Szreter
Chair: Professor Paul Kelly

Recorded on 8 October 2014 in Old Theatre, Old Building.

How should historians speak truth to power - and why does it matter? Why is five hundred years better than five months or five years as a planning horizon? And why is history - especially long-term history - so essential to understanding the multiple pasts which gave rise to our conflicted present? The History Manifesto is a ‘call to arms’ to historians and everyone interested in the role of history in contemporary society. Leading historians David Armitage and Jo Guldi identify a recent shift back to longer-term narratives, following many decades of increasingly specialization, which they argue is vital for the future of historical scholarship and how it is communicated. This provocative and thoughtful book makes an important intervention in the debate about the role of history and the humanities in a digital age. It will provoke discussion among policymakers, activists and entrepreneurs as well as ordinary listeners, viewers, readers, students and teachers.

David Armitage (@DavidRArmitage) is the Lloyd C. Blankfein Professor of History and Chair of the Department of History at Harvard University.

Jo Guldi (@joguldi) is Assistant Professor of History at Brown University.

Simon Szreter is Professor of History and Public Policy at St John's College, University of Cambridge. He will be representing the History & Policy group.

Paul Kelly is Pro-Director for teaching and learning at LSE.

British Government@LSE is an initiative led by the LSE’s Government Department (@LSEGovernment) to promote research, teaching and debate about politics and government in the UK.