Understanding the logic of History

UNDERSTANDING THE LOGIC OF HISTORY 

 

History as part of context: Understanding history is a prerequisite for grasping the country-specific context. It can improve understanding of the conflict, the parties involved, existing institutions, and formal and informal rules. 

History as an explanation: History can help explain current conditions and the different parties' fears, perceptions and reactions. Past experiences are one factor that can determine whether a particular solution is acceptable. For instance, countries with negative experiences of federalism tend to be reluctant to accept federal solutions. 

History as justification: History is sometimes used to justify actions or to claim entitlements. For instance, actions are legitimised as a response to past injustices; territory is claimed based on ‘historical’ rights concerning traditional settlement patterns or the location of historical battlegrounds; the right to self-government is claimed based on former experience of self-rule; self-determination is advocated within the framework of decolonisation. 

History as an instrument: History is used to divide, unite, legitimise, and de-legitimise. An emphasis on positive everyday experiences can be used to foster unity. On the other hand, the invocation of symbols and events that have negative connotations for parts of the population, or that explicitly or implicitly exclude certain groups, can be instrumentalised to foster divisions. In dealing with a violent past, for instance, truth commissions or tribunals can be established to contribute to peace and justice. Institutions can be reintroduced or built on to use the traditional legitimacy of structures accepted in the past, rather than creating new ‘foreign’ institutions from scratch. History can be used to help establish legitimacy. However, negative historical experiences can also be instrumentalised to delegitimise institutions. 

 Politorbis #45