History behind the Headlines Issue 5, October 2012
BEFORE LONDON
2012 INKED: TATTOOING THROUGH THE AGES
ONE NATION LABOUR?
Welcome to this year’s first issue of the Manchester Historian. Ata and I are really excited to take over as editors. Florence and her team last year got the paper off to an incredible start. I was so impressed when I heard that Price Waterhouse Cooper had shortlisted the paper award. So, we’ve got really strong foundations and a brilliant team this year. If you’ve got an opinion on anything in this issue, get in touch with us. As Benedict Anderson observed newspapers help us to remember that we are all part of a wider community, in our case people studying history at Manchester. We are also keen to hear from you if you want to be a contributor.
FEES RISE FALLOUT Charlie Bush investigates how the rise in fees Charlie Bush affect our first year and future Historians at Manchester. Having worked on the paper since its inception I’m really excited to be editor of the Manchester Historian this year. It’s a wonderFEATURE: BEFORE LONDON 2012 ful achievement that students within our History department With the excitement of the Olympic Sumhave designed, written, created and produced their very own paper and I’m keen to see it get better with every issue released. mer over, we explore the history of Britains sporting traditions to ease our post-Olympic Blues. I’m looking forward to making the paper more accessible to a wider community beyond the department and putting arHISTORY LIASON INTERVIEWS ticles in covering a wider variety of interests. We’re always keen to hear new ideas, so please message us if you have any! Charlotte Johnson interviews two of our newest permenant staff, Dr. Sasha Handley and Dr. Paul Oldfield. Ata Rahman Editors Ata Rahman Charlie Bush Head of Copy-Editing Head of Layout Head of Advertising Head of Marketing
Aditya Iyer Becky Stevens Vidhur Prashar Sinead Doherty
Copy-Editing Team: Feargal Logue Jessie Brener Amy Garnett Sigourney Fox Eve Commander Layout Team Charlotte Johnson Emma Slater Advertising Team Caroline Bishop Gemma Newton Tom Oliver Harry Cooke Marketing Team Rebecca Hennel-Smith Kate Blaxill Leah Crowther
PROFILING THE PRESENT THROUGH THE PAST ARCHBISHOPS BEHAVING BADLY ERIC HOBSBAWM OBITUARY ONE NATION MILIBAND? ALAN GILBERT BUILDING INKED “WHAT’S ABE LINCOLN DOING IN MANCHESTER?” YEARS OF THE DOG Contact us on:
or email: manchesterhistorian@gmail.com
FEES RISE FALLOUT
W
elcome Week 2012 may have seemed the usual riot of massive nights, thronging freshers’ fairs, and the now obligatory Student Union indignation at some fresh disgrace by club promoters. All fuelled by enough personal pizzas to pave the way to East Didsbury and back. Same old, same old. However, there was, of course, something very specific about the new first years that marked them as different to other undergraduates.
But a major concern about the increase in fees was that it would have a differential impact on potential applicants based on their economic background; this remains a concern for Professor Barker: “My worry is that it will put people from poorer backgrounds off and our student body will become more homogenous and more privileged.” The History Department is redoubling its efforts to engage with local schools. The Independent Commission on Fees did not find a disproportionate reduction in applications from people in poorer or less advantaged communities, but also consider it too early to make any firm conclusions.
There is no need to rehearse the progress of the amendment to Higher Education Act 2004, even less the furious but ultimately unheeded opposition to it. Will higher tuition fees mean that History students Anyone even slightly interested in higher education spend more time in the Library? Who knows, that in the UK will be well aware of the arguments against might be one good thing to come out of the fee rise! increasing tuition fees to a maximum of £9,000 a year. Charlie Bush Now, nearly two years since the law was changed and as the first cohort affected are finding their feet at their chosen institutions, it’s time to ask the question: what’s been the impact on the students studying History? At the end of August, the Independent Commission on Fees report showed that the overall number of UCAS applications was down by 8.8% compared to 2010, suggesting that the fee increases discouraged many from applying to University. It is worth noting that figures from 2011 are up on both 2010 and 2012, an obvious reason for this being that students who had a choice decided not to take a gap year, saving themselves £6,000 a year. This could have contributed to fewer students applying in 2012. Does this mean that next years’ numbers will be back up to 2010 levels as applicants ac climatise to this new and harsher economic reality? Hannah Barker, Head of History at Manchester University says that it is simply too early to say: “We just don’t know what the increase in tuition fees is doing yet, because there isn’t the evidence base.” What can be ascertained from the data UCAS has released so far is that the numbers of applications to study History have been more robust. This, Professor Barker suggests, is to be expected: History at Manchester is a very popular degree within a Russell Group University. So, it seems that the number of students studying History here is probably not going to slump dramatically.
BEFORE SPORTING VICTORIANS
O
ther than by the Olympians of Greece, sport has not been influenced and organised so effectively before or since the Victorians. Take a selection of sports known and cultivated by the British. I suppose football is on your list, as is rugby and probably tennis and cricket too. The Victorians had a say in all of the above. Before them though, a different scene prevailed. Sport was often a destructive and unmanaged activity with any number of players (which could reach hundreds), and any number of broken bones.
Sporting Times published a famous obituary: “In af fectionate remembrance of English cricket… The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.” ‘Sphairistike’ (a poor attempt at Greek), and ‘Pelota’ were names tried before ‘tennis’ caught on. Though the names didn’t stick the game did and formal rules were established in 1874. The first Wimbledon was held in 1877, won by Spencer Gore, followed by the launch of the Lawn Tennis Association in 1888. On a national level, spectator interest was increasing, facilitated by improvements in transport. Globally, British sport flourished first through its colonies and then beyond, hence the popularity of rugby in Australia, and cricket in Pakistan and India. What it seems to bubble down to is the Victorian pursuit of control, which wasn’t a bad thing. It created a more accessible, regulated selection of activities, and built a heritage, particularly in post-Olympics Britain, to be proud of.
What came first, rugby or the school? A popular myth is that William Webb Ellis, a student at Rugby School in 1823 defying the local football rules by running with the ball in his arms, thereby beginning the popular trend. The Football Association was formed in 1863 and aimed to standardise the rules of football. Before this each public school had its own local traditions and chaos ensued when the boys met at university and attempted to play by an amalgamated set of rules. The FA established the Laws of the Game, during which F. M. Campbell withdrew from the FA over the removal of two rules which allowed handling the ball, and hacking (tripping an opponent and kicking him in the shins). Sound familiar? This split led to the formation of the Rugby Football Union in 1871. Charlotte Johnson As the century rolled on, factory owners’ views towards football and other sports became more lax as they began to appreciate the health benefits, and encouraged a workforce united by sport. A familiar club with unfamiliar origins is Newton Heath, a club founded by workers from the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company achieved infamy as Manchester United. The rules of that quintessentially British game, cricket, were formed in the mid-eighteenth century, but English and Australian teams loved to travel. The first official test match was in 1877; Australia were victorious over England. Australia won again in 1882 which instigated playing for the Ashes ever since when The
LONDON
A new chapter in British tennis history?
B
2012
ritain took over tennis this summer as Andy Murray conquered home and abroad to win the Olympics and the US Open in a breathless summer of sport. With the first British man to hoist a Grand Slam trophy since 1936, does Murray represent a new leaf in British tennis? Firstly let me satisfyingly deflate a historical myth; Britain actually did not “invent tennis”. Some believe that the game originated in the Ancient Egyptian city of Tinnis near the Nile, whilst others believe it was started by bored monks in 11th century French monasteries. However, it did permeate British society in the Tudor era as a pastime of Henry VIII. Britain can claim to have invented tennis rackets and to have been strongly involved in creating the modern game. We briefly dominated between the 19th and 20th centuries; William Renshaw won seven Wimbledon singles titles, a record he still (at least for now) holds alongside Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. Moreover, from 1877 to 1903 Britain boasted seven different male world number ones. British success was no less pronounced in the Olympics. From 1896 to 1924, GB won 39 medals, 15 of them gold. The next closest country (the USA) won just 15 in total. Britain was once really, really good at tennis. Where did it all go wrong? After a lull in fortunes, the iconic Fred Perry took centre stage in the 1930s, winning a total of eight Grand Slams including all four majors, the last hero of a declining empire. There followed the barren years, darkened by a dearth of glory. Yet crucially Murray’s success does break the spell over British men’s tennis. The next step will be to overhaul the 76-year wait for a British Wimbledon champion. Should “Muzza” succeed he would re-write British tennis history for good.
Alex Underwood
I
BEFORE BRADLEY
t’s been a golden summer for Team GB’s cyclists. The country collectively cheered when Sir Chris Hoy, Jason Kenny and Philip Hindes managed a world-record 42.6 seconds in the men’s team sprint. However this talented trio must be glad that they weren’t reliant on Britain’s first two-wheeled vehicles. Londoner Denis Johnson patented his version of the ‘velocipede’ in 1819. Although these wooden contraptions shared the two wheels and handlebar steering of the modern bicycle, Hoy might have been slowed down by the lack of pedals. The velocipede was propelled just by running. Nevertheless it started a craze amongst rich young men, eliciting some disapproval. According to bicycle historian David Herlihy, some of the ‘dandies’ who rode these contraptions were publicly taunted. If Victoria Pendleton had competed in the 1860s, she might have been asked to ride in the more ladylike sidesaddle position. Women cyclists were actually seen as dangerous rebels and satirised in cartoons like the one below. Inventors weren’t deterred though. The ‘Bradley Wiggins effect’ may have caused a massive spike in bicycle sales this year, but the first commercially successful bikes were ‘boneshakers’ in the 1860s. Their bumpiness inspired Coventry inventor James Starley to add innovations like tangent spokes and rubber tyres. He also made the front wheel much larger than the back. This was the famous ‘penny-farthing’ design, which was extremely unsafe. Riders frequently died after falling over the high handlebars. Luckily, in 1885 Starley’s nephew, John Kemp Starley, perfected his ‘safety bicycle’, featuring equally-sized wheels and a rear-attached chain. Over the twentieth century, bicycle clubs became an acceptable and popular method of recreation. The British Cycling Federation was formed in 1959. Their successor organisation, British Cycling, still govern the sport today and Team GB owes much of its success to them.
Christie Fraser
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TEAM GB: 116 YEARS IN THE MAKING
ince the birth of the modern Olympics, Great Britain has played its role consistently in the movement. It has competed in every Summer Olympics since 1896 and is the only team to have won a gold medal in every single Summer Olympics. To add to these laurels, London is now the only city to have hosted this prestigious event three times.
overtaking them in front of Hitler’s box to win the race. London was selected again as the host city for the XIV Olympiad in 1948.
It had been twelve years since the last Olympics and the world was still reeling from World War II. Yet, Britain was praised for the “improvisation and organisation” by IOC President Sigfrid Edstrom. It Britain’s Olympic success began in 1896 at the first was an austere Olympics: athletes were housed in modern Olympics in Athens. One notable com- RAF camps and were encouraged to bring their petitor was John Pius Boland who arrived as a own supplies. The Germans and Japanese were not spectator but found himself leaving with a win- invited and the Soviet Union did not send a team. ning medal in the tennis after borrowing a racquet and beating the man who lent it to him in the final. Through the next three decades, Britain had limBritish enthusiasm began gathering pace and in ited success, never taking more than 24 medals in 1905 London was awarded its first Olympic Games. each Games. However, there were individual British heroes, amongst them Sebastian Coe. In the The IV Olympiad in London 1908 became known 1980 Moscow Olympics and the 1984 Los Angeas The Battle of Shepherd’s Bush because of the loca- les Olympics, he took gold in the 1500m becomtion and intense rivalry between Great Britain and ing the first man to win consecutive gold medthe USA that permeated the games. The best exam- als in that event. Britain finished Los Angeles with ple of this was in the 400m. British runner Wynd- 37 medals, the highest number in three decades. ham Halswelle was obstructed on the last corner In 2012, when once more, London took the stage hostby John Carpenter of the USA.. The race was or- ing the XXX Olympiad. Over 10,000 athletes took part. dered to be re-run and Carpenter was disqualified. It turned out to be Britain’s most successful Olympics as In 1936, the Olympics came to Berlin in what Team GB took a haul of 65 medals to finish third in the were a tense sixteen days. Jesse Owens was un- rankings. New heroes rose such as Jessica Ennis and Mo deniably the hero for his part in humiliat- Farah and new records were set, particularly in cycling. ing the racist ideology of the Third Reich.
Britain however, had its own heroes in the form of the double sculls pair of Leslie Southwood and Jack Beresford who caught the German favourites in the last 500 metres,
This represented the culmination of 116 years of British determination to excel in the greatest sporting event in history. Alexander Atkins
MEET TH
HISTORY
OFFI by Charlotte Johnson
Dr Sasha Handley and Dr Paul Oldfield are two out of eight new, permanent staff in the History department. Between them, their research ranges from medieval Sicily to pilgrimages in the Middle Ages, and from ghosts in the 18th century to sleep habits. However, their roles within the University are not simply academic: both have taken on additional positions to enhance the relationship between students, staff and the wider public. I interviewed them to find out about their new roles.
What is your new role? SH: I am the Student Activities Coordinator. This involves providing financial advice and administrative support to the Manchester Historian and the History Society, and flagging things of historical interest to both. I am the point of contact between the students and the University and its staff. I will also be facilitating staff/ student events like the Pub Quiz on Tuesday 16th October. I liaise with the Peer Mentor representatives and helped organise the first year’s scavenger hunt at the beginning of the year. Expect essay and exam clinics and events specifically geared towards first years to ease the move to university. Other initiatives I am working on include a history film night for staff and students, and I am also looking forward to contributing to the annual Manchester History Festival, alongside a number of my colleagues and hopefully some students too. PO: Since there are more people in the History Department this year, staff can take on isolated administrative roles. I am the Schools Liaison Officer and will be acting as a point of contact for schools and colleges, organising workshops and lectures. This is not necessarily a University recruitment exercise but aims to give something back to the community.
What brought you to the University of Manchester? SH: I worked at Manchester between 2006 and 2009 as a non-permanent member of staff. After this I worked at the University of Northumbria, in Newcastle. Manchester is not only a prestigious university but teaches the kind of history I am interested in. Here, I have similar interests as my colleagues- cultural and social his tory.
HE NEW
LIASON
ICERS PO: Previously I worked at Manchester Metropolitan so there is some geographical continuity. Manchester University is a top university for research and resources. It also has a strong medieval legacy left by many eminent medieval historians, making it a sort of spiritual home for medievalists.
What is your current and future research, and what are you teaching this year? SH: I have carried out research in ghost beliefs and ghost stories detailed in my book, Visions of an Unseen World. I am currently researching sleep and sleep habits in seventeenth and eighteenth century Britain; specifically things like how bedtime is shaped by religious beliefs and sleepwalkers in the eighteenth century. I am the course leader of the first year course, ‘Communities and States in Early Modern Europe’; second year course, ‘War and Society in Early Modern Europe’; and third year course, ‘Contesting the Supernatural in the Early Modern British Isles, c. 1600-1800’. PO: I am a medievalist, and have carried out research on saints and pilgrimages, and medieval Sicily in the Central Middle Ages. I am teaching a range of topics from the Vikings to the Normans, and the crusades. A lot of my teaching focuses on Europe, while my supervision of MA students involves comparing the south of Italy and Sicily to Jerusalem which fits in well with my research.
Do you have any words of wisdom for history undergraduates? SH: Students tend to stick with what they know, particularly when choosing modules. There is a whole world of opportunity when you get to university and you never know what might tickle your fancy, so be eclectic and adventurous. Dive in. PO: Everyone panics when they are given a piece of work or essay to do. A by-product of my experience has allowed me to see the benefit of letting time pass, and then begin to read slowly. It won’t be as daunting if you read bit by bit which will allow you to hold your nerve.
Profiling the Present through the Past Syria
Unless you have been deliberately avoiding all forms of news media since December 2010, there is a good chance you will have heard of the Arab Spring. It is potentially one of the most momentous series of events to occur across the Middle East since the break-up of the Ottoman Empire. For the most part, it has fizzled out, resulting in regime changes in three countries but relatively little in most Arab states. However, it is still very much a part of Syria, with the death count currently at 33,000 and rising. So, as historians, we must ask ourselves: what are the foundations behind today’s instabilities? The rise of the Assad regime has similar origins to that of Sadam Hussein in Iraq; both are based on the Ba’athist military coup of 1966. In the consolidation, Hafez al-Assad, the former commander of the Syrian air force, was made Minister of Defence. He established a power base in the Syrian military and in 1970 used this influence to dispose of the then leader Salah Jadid, with disagreement over the role played by the Soviet Union a deciding factor. Over the course of the next 30 years, Assad garnered support by creating a cult of personality in addition to passing populist motions. In 1973 he went so far as to change the Syrian constitution in order to give equal status to women and allow non-Muslims to run for presidency, although this was rescinded later under pressure from the Muslim Brotherhood. This was merely the progressive mask of a leader who brutally suppressed any opposition to his regime. Any political dissenters were quickly arrested, tortured and killed; most notably, at the Hama Massacre of 1982, of which the Syrian Human Rights committee estimate Assad’s forces killed 40,000 Muslim Brotherhood dissenters. By the time of his death in office on 10th June 2000, he was one of the most controversial leaders of the late 20th century. He was succeeded by his son, Bashar al-Assad, who had been groomed for leadership in the previous six years. Unlike his father, Bashar was not initially interested in leadership. He was not the oldest of Hafez al-Assad’s children, and instead of following a career in politics he graduated as a doctor in 1988 and went to work at the Western Eye Hospital in London in 1992. It was only after the death of his elder brother Bassel in a car accident that he was recalled to Syria to learn the crafts of state-work from his father. When he came into power in June of 2000, the people of Syria looked to him as the harbinger of a new era, bringing greater political freedom and changing his father’s record on human rights violations. However, this was not to be the case. Assad’s apparent favouring of the Alawite minority in cabinet offices and unopposed presidential campaigns are key factors behind the current civil war. Now it only remains to be seen what the future holds for the dictator who appears to have garbed himself in his father’s bloodstained shoes. Tom Oliver
The Birth of South Sudan
South Sudan is the newest country in the world, but it does not seem to hold much promise for a bright future. Desperately poor, unstable, and suffering from shockingly high infant mortality rates, the country suffers from problems that are fruit of its colonial roots. Through fear of losing control of the Nile and the Suez Canal, the British, rather than the French, ruled Sudan as two different territories. In the north, civil servants were chosen and trained because the British ruled with a desire for development. The South, however, was deemed backward, and left to the devices of local chieftaincies. From Sudan’s independence in 1956 until the signing of a peace treaty in 1972, Southern army officers were in rebellion, with a war for independence breaking out in 1963. This war recommenced in 1983, between those who wanted one whole Sudan and the rebels whose ultimate goal was Southern independence. The rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement led the mutiny, forcibly training young men to be soldiers, planting mines and attacking towns. Led by the United States, a peace agreement was brokered and, in 2011, 98.83% of the population voted in favour of South Sudanese independence. The country remains dangerously underdeveloped, with little improvement of infrastructure and education. Ethnic cleansing is rife on the uncertain borders between the North and the South, and the fledgling South Sudanese government remains locked at war internally, instead of devoting time to build in peace. The country was born in to corruption, economic ruin and destitution, all of which continue to tear through the nation and prolong the suffering. As it takes its first faltering steps, the world should watch to see if this newest of nations can ever met the hopes and expectations of its citizens.
Ruth Ehrlich
Cuban Communism in Crisis?
In 2008, after years of service as Minister of Defence, Raul Castro succeeded his ailing brother Fidel as the President of the Republic of Cuba. This change in leadership was due to the deteriorating health of the elder brother and was heralded by many analysts worldwide as a new political and economic epoch for the Latin American communist state. Fidel’s own admission in 2010 that “the Cuban model doesn’t even work for us anymore” fuelled this theory. In spite of this critique of the state of affairs in Cuba, Raul reiterated, upon his appointment, that in spite of policy initiatives to reinvigorate Cuba’s flagging economy there would not be full scale reform. Diplomatic visits to China in order to secure foreign financing (upon which the Cuba has relied since the Revolution) and to study the economic reforms made there and in Communist Vietnam are evidence of Cuba’s continued commitment to socialism. The recent changes in the single party state, however, have been undeniable: unprecedented land grants to 45,000 individuals and cooperatives, relaxation of property and construction laws and debate regarding the abolition of the widely criticised two tier currency system. These policies have once again renewed questions about the state of Cuban communism. The Cuban political structure has remained largely unchanged for 50 years and these economic concessions are merely a sign of the times; an acceptance that a system that flourished with financial backing from the USSR cannot be successfully maintained in the 21st century without some modifications. Certainly, toiling under the longest illegal economic blockade of the 20th Century from the USA, exacerbates this harsh reality. In 2008 a National Assembly motion that Fidel Castro would still be consulted on all major foreign and domestic state policy was unanimously approved and confirmed one thing: as long as Fidel remains, so does Communism.
Robbie Wilson
Archbishops Behaving
Now that Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has announced his impending retirement, there’s been a whole lot of speculation over his successor. But Christians really needn’t worry. Whoever gets the job can’t be nearly as brilliantly bonkers as some of Williams’ predecessors.
Both Baldwin of Forde and Hubert Walter accompanied Richard the Lionheart on the Third Crusade.
However the best combinations of Christianity and insanity always seem to result in martyrdom. St. Aelfheah was killed with an axe in 1012 after a drunken hoard of Vikings pelted him half to death with bones and cattle Take Archbishop George skulls. He could have perhaps Abbot for example. In 1621 saved himself, but he refused he straight-up killed someto pay a ransom or let anybody one with a crossbow, the pay it for him. Yet probably most appropriate weapon the most famous example of for a priest to use. Admitdefiance in the face of death tedly, it was an accident. is the murder of Archbishop Abbot was out hunting and Thomas Becket. Even though the arrow, which accidenthe King had appointed him tally hit a gamekeeper, was in hopes that he’d support the meant for a deer. Neversecular government, Becket theless this makes him the insisted on playing Pope’s pet. only Archbishop of CanWhen Henry II’s resulting terbury to actually kill a temper tantrum was overheard person. That we know of. If by four knights, they quickly you believe some questionwent to teach Becket some able but fun sources from manners; by bashing his brains the twelfth century then in. In 1170 Canterbury Catheyou can enjoy the mental dral became the site of a grisly image of Archbishop Oda swinging his sword along- A well-behaved Archbishop, reimagined by murder and, reputedly, some Charlotte Johnson. badass last words. Becket’s reside King Æthelstan at sponse to the three blows from the Battle of Brunanburh a sword, which left the top of in 937. In case you think his head split from the rest of this isn’t awesome, here’s a it, was to state calmly: ‘For the brief description of what name of Jesus and the protechappened to Oda’s Viking tion of the Church, I am ready opponents that day: to embrace death’. Whether he would actually be able “The enemy perished... fated they fell. The field to say much besides ‘Aaaaaaaaargh’ at this point is flowed with blood of warriors, from sun up in the debatable. morning, when the glorious star glided over the earth... till that noble creation sank to its seat.” That’s just a few of many unusual Archbishops. Because this clearly wasn’t enough blood for Oda, he Thankfully, whoever succeeds Dr. Williams, we don’t is reported to have conjured up a brand new miracle have to worry about any modern priests pulling out a crossbow; that’s already been done. sword when the King’s shattered. As much as everyone really wants this to be true, the more sceptical Christie Fraser of us can be satisfied that Oda wasn’t the only Archbishop of Canterbury to go to war.
BADLY
Hobsbawm Obituary The Marxist economic historian Eric Hobsbawm, who has died aged 95, was regarded internationally as one of most the prominent British historians, his works being number one on the reading list for every student with an interest in modern history. Born in 1917, Hobsbawm grew up in Egypt, Vienna and Berlin, where he witnessed the collapse of the global economy and Hitler’s rise to power. He left Germany for England in 1933, the year Hitler became Chancellor, and received his PhD in History from King’s College, Cambridge, before serving in the Royal Engineers and the Royal Army Educational Corps. It was at Cambridge that he joined the Communist Party, a political affiliation that saw him held back from many positions, both during the Second World War and in his later search for a teaching position. His works are today amongst the most widely read and respected of any modern historian. He never attempted to hide or deny his left-wing political views, a brave feat during the Cold War fears of the 1950s and 60s. His commitment to Marxist ideology meant that in a BBC interview in 1994, he controversial stated that the millions of lives lost under Stalin’s rule would have been justified, had a Communist society been a true success. Despite this, Hobsbawm was widely respected by historians from both ends of the political spectrum, and he was almost always successful in producing work unprejudiced by his own beliefs. He was not dogmatic. Hobsbawm’s Marxist views were imperceptible in the first three “The Age of…” books. However, in the coda of The Age of Extremes, about the ‘long nineteenth century’, the failures of the Soviet Union forced Hobsbawm into an uncomfortable position. He wanted neither to fully reject his communist ideologies, nor to produce a biased piece of work. Unlike most of his Marxist contemporaries, Hobsbawm never fully turned his back on his beliefs as he grew older. He grew slightly quieter on the subject in the
1990s, when he did not renew his Communist Party membership, but still remained loyal to his lifelong political views. Hobsbawm established labour history as an important academic branch of history. In studying protest and the people’s movement from a socialist perspective, he legitimised academic studies that focussed on the people themselves, rendering his work accessible and relevant, especially for the student population. Along with other communist historians, Hobsbawm created the journal Past and Present, now a highlyesteemed journal often listed as required reading by the Manchester History department. Regardless of Hobsbawm’s political views, he will remain the one of the most important historians in any modern history student’s studies. Following Hobsbawm’s death, Niall Ferguson said “at a time when much smaller ideological differences are regularly the occasion for vituperative ad hominem attacks, Hobsbawm should serve as an example of how civilised people can differ about big questions while agreeing about much else.” It is this, perhaps, that will be his greatest legacy: uniting historians with polar-opposite beliefs through the academic study of history. Ruth Ehrlich
ONE NATION MILIBAND? Ed Miliband’s recent Conference Speech was met with great acclaim for its ambitious and surprising declaration of a “One Nation” Labour Party. It was undoubtedly a brave and rousing message, but the proposal of “One Nation” is nothing new.The concept originated with a Conservative Prime Minister speaking 140 years earlier, yards from where Miliband himself stood. In 1872 Benjamin Disraeli addressed the Manchester Free Trade Hall (now the Radisson Hotel) with a new message of Conservatism. Individual action and self-preservation were unworkable for an organic modern society, government intervention should help, and the upper class had a moral obligation to support the poor. When he wrote his 1845 novel Sybil, Disraeli asserted that Britain was becoming “two nations between whom there is no intercourse and no sympathy”. His words were, as much as anything, vote-grabbing but Disraeli follow the policy through. His second government introduced wide-reaching social reforms to improve the lot of the working class including changes to working-class housing, the recognition in legislation of Friendly Societies to protect workers’ savings and the equalisation of employees’ rights in the Employer’s and Workmen Act of 1875. The post-war consensus of the 50s and 60s also saw a rise in “One Nation” politics as social and economic reforms proved that interventionism worked. Only when Margaret Thatcher advocated economic independence did “One Nation” conservatism fade. Historically, then, “One Nation” ideal has been claimed by the Conservative Party. So, how has Miliband appropriated it for Labour, and can it work? Crucially, the Conservative Party has missed a trick. David Cameron is a “One Nation” Tory in Disraeli’s mould: he could just as easily have claimed to be the man to re-unite Britain, but he missed his chance. Miliband was alert to the idea and, while his politics may not closely reflect Disraeli’s, his vision does. The beauty of “One Nation” is that it is all-encompassing – a rallying cry to the working class and a celebration of national pride for the right. The Labour leadership aims to occupy the centre ground. Boundary changes and the threat of independence for Scotland mean that Labour has to re-think its position electorally. They lost 137 MPs in
England in 2010 and they must win them back. “One Nation” is the sort of rhetoric that leaves nobody behind and could be vote-winning for Ed Miliband. In policy terms the implications are unclear. Labour can take a tougher line on bankers’ bonuses and reforms to vocational training. But it leaves them in a tricky position on welfare reform and the Winter Fuel Allowance. “One Nation” is more a banner to march under than a policy generator. Historically, being the “One Nation” party in time of crisis has always been fruitful. As both parties argue the true meaning of Disraeli’s words, Ed Miliband will be hoping that “One Nation” kick-starts a new era for Labour.
Alex Underwood
THE ALAN GILBERT BUILDING Finally, the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons opened its doors to students and as they came trudging in, wet and windswept, it was clear that this visionary building immediately inspired them. Honouring the University’s late inaugural president and vice-chancellor, this building’s ‘distinctly Manchester’ design is reflected throughout. Names of contributors are forever engraved into the floor tiles, motivating quotes echo across the oak panelling and student artwork subtly graces the walls. Glass panelling and the full height atrium space flood the building with natural light so that even on Manchester’s most miserable days, this is a cool and contemporary atmosphere which instantly became one of the University’s most desirable places to study. Although architecturally the building has caused controversy, juxtaposed with some of the University’s most iconic buildings, the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons is praised for its student-oriented design features. Except for an underground conveyor belt from the library, this building has thought of everything! With Wi-Fi available in and outside the building, students can choose from 1000 dynamic study spaces offering ergonomic seating designs to suit everybody, from highbacked chairs to low-slung sofas or secretive study booths. However in practice some of the furniture is itchy and impractical and the arm-rest-desks have not considered left-handed people! The planned 24-hour study areas are equipped with laptop connectable media screens, while the 30 ‘smart classrooms’ seating up to 12 also include whiteboards. Working is easier with individual desk lamps, the widened and adjustable PC screens and ample (and height adjustable) desk space for sprawling papers. Mile long extension cables are a thing of the past as plug sockets feature at all fixed furniture, and underfloor bus-bars provide additional charging space. All computers, including the 18 quick access PCs connect to Multi-Function Devices, providing scanning and photocopying facilities, and printing access across campus using the ‘pull printing’ system. Another focus of this building is its eco-friendly ethos. Additional to recycling are monitors which detect carbon dioxide levels and lighting designed to be sensitive to natural light and occupancy, therefore minimising energy wastage. The café attempts to source its produce locally too, providing fresh breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Although open to students, the building has more surprises to unveil! All floors already provide History PhD student Ian Field is one of the winners of a competi- disabled access, but this is improving with a disabled tion to provide artwork for the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons. suite on the ground floor still to arrive. Lockers arrive soon for secure laptop and mobile phone charging. Also from the 29th October there will be new software installed for video and audio production and editing, with Skype available during the 24/7 period. Although students are swapping their bedrooms every day for this stimulating new environment, it is clear that the study space situation has yet to be resolved. While some have criticised the lack of desk space and prefer the more traditional feel of the library, this building represents something different and exciting, and until you have wandered through Alan Gilbert and found your favourite spot, you have yet to be enlightened! Hannah Matthews
INKED:
From Icemen to sailors: Tattooing and its history
A good message for the third years The canvas on which tattooing is etched on may only be skin deep, but the history of this art form goes much deeper. If, like me, you have partaken in the joy of the needle (having a professional doodler draw upon your skin not, I hasten to add, drugs) we are participating in a social ritual, which has existed for at least 5,000 years. The history of tattooing begins with a discovery that was unearthed in the Austrian Alps in 1991. The frozen remains of a perfectly preserved primitive human represented not just a breakthrough in archaeology but also caused a stir among anthropologists who were surprised to find this body to be covered with elaborate geometric tattoos, 57 in total. Researchers believe these geometric shapes were thought to provide therapeutic relief for arthritis. Tattoos were also prevalent among women in Egyptian culture, usually serving a ritualistic or therapeutic purpose to ease a woman’s pregnancy. The tattoos, consisting of geometric displays of dots and lines, were strategically placed on a woman’s body to provide her greater fertility. While tattooing was clearly springing up independently around the world, the influence of the Egyptian practise of tattooing was instrumental in introducing the art to Greece, Persia and Arabia It was on its eastwards journey that the spiritual and ritualistic nature of tattooing was lost and corrupted by the Greeks and became loaded full of connotations of barbarism and criminality. The Greeks adapted tattooing to mark society’s ‘undesirables’ such as slaves and thieves. This practice haunts us today in the use of tattooing by the Nazis to identify and dehumanise inmates in concentration camps. Christianity too failed to capitalise on the spiritual advantages which tattooing offered, as Old Testament Bible stores such as the story of the curse of Cain reinforced the notion tattoos were to be used to mark the wrong-doers. It proved to be colonisation that introduced tattooing to the modern western world. By the late 18th century the practice became popular among British sailors after Captain Cook’s voyages to the South Pacific, but the art met an unexpected popularity among members of the British gentry when King George was tattooed. So despite an element of respectability, tattoos in the Victorian period were predominantly the preserve of vagabonds and circus freaks, for customers to ogle at. However, it was the opinions that formed in 20th century America which remain at the heart of today’s tattoo culture, appealing to the working-classes for its masculine values or to reflect individuality. The tradition of expressing one’s adventurous or well-travelled lifestyle was made appealing by returning sailors from the American navy. As journalist Jack London put it, ‘‘show me a man with a tattoo and I’ll show you a man with an interesting past’’.
Harry Cooke
“What’s Abe Lincoln doing here in Manchester?” “Four score and seven years ago…” So began one of the most iconic speeches in modern history, spoken by the President who led the USA through the horrors of the Civil War and ended the legal practice of slavery. You can’t deny it, Abraham Lincoln is everywhere in the USA from the colossal Lincoln Memorial, to dollar bills, bridges, street names and car commercials. You just can’t escape his distinctive form, but strangely enough, he also has a statue right in the heart of Manchester. Sculpted by George Grey Bernard after the First World War, the statue is situated on Brasenose Street, in Lincoln Square. Its location is not really befitting for one of the most iconic figures in American history; the square is terminally quiet, and is surrounded by dull office blocks. This aside, the statue tells a compelling story about the historical link between the US Civil War and Victorian Manchester. The regional economy of the 1800s relied upon an ample supply of cotton, which the Southern States had prosperously supplied for decades. Much like Liverpool and Bristol, a great deal of the industrial wealth which existed in Manchester at the time had been created as a direct consequence of slavery. In 1860, President Lincoln was elected and the Southern States famously seceded from the Union. The North quickly enacted an economic blockade, and resultantly Manchester found itself directly embroiled in The words of the letter appear on the statue’s base. the massive political, moral and economic struggle Although the council changed the word “men” to that was the US Civil War. “people”, as Lincoln’s gendered contemporary language was understood to be too sexist, it was one of The city faced a difficult choice; not everyone cared about or supported the North. In the end it was con- the earliest examples of the “special relationship” in action. Thus the statue serves as a potent symbol of troversially decided that Manchester would boycott Ango-American relations. Southern cotton. In the process Manchester took an important moral and political alignment. As the war dragged on, it was a gesture that the President himself even acknowledged. In his letter to the working men of Lancashire in 1863, Lincoln empathetically made clear that “I know and deeply deplore the sufferings which the working men of Manchester and in all Europe are called to endure in this crisis” and furthermore told of his desire to make the “peace and friendship” that existed between Britain and the US, which in those times he deemed “perpetual”.
Obscure historical links such as this are often fascinating to read about and this is just one of many cases in Manchester where these links can be drawn. In my view it is a great shame that Lincoln doesn’t have a more prominent spot to watch over Manchester. Whatever his true motivations at the time were, he deserves to have pride of place. Aidan Gregory
In Translation: Women, Migration and Britishness at the Manchester Art Gallery The Manchester Art Gallery’s In Translation is a new collaborative exhibition displaying selected works from the Empire Marketing Board alongside new commentaries and pieces derived from the artists’ collective Ultimate Holding Company’s workshops with foreign female immigrants to the North West. The Empire Marketing Board existed in the interwar period between the years 1926 to 1933. It was a government body aimed at promoting empire consumerism via diverse mediums that ranged from short films, domestic advice literature and propaganda posters, such as those exhibited at the gallery. Often gendered sales pitches offered women in particular, a role in building imperial prosperity through the purchase of ‘Empire Sugar from Mauritius’ or ‘Empire Cotton from Uganda’ amongst other commodities from the British colonies, creating the illusion of shopping for home as being, in some way, patriotic. These posters were produced by noteworthy contemporary artists and are accordingly visually impressive; their subject matter, however, can be quite unsettling when displayed in a post-colonial society. Though they sought to depict a transcontinental and mutually beneficial British Imperial community, works such as Adrian Paul Allison’s ‘Empire Tobacco from Northern Rhodesia & Nyasaland’ provoked a furious discourse about colonialism, and the ills that surround it. And it is for this divisive reason that these pieces have been chosen by the UHC’s female migrant collaborators. Members of the Wai Yin Chinese Women Society, Europia and the Cumbria Multicultural Women’s Network have selected a number of emotive pieces from the gallery’s 222 EMB posters and reflected on how they interpret them as new citizens in modern day multicultural Britain. The concept of ‘Britishness’ is examined throughout as the women discuss the controversial legacy of Empire and how these posters shape the ways in which they identify their own nationalities and positions within the wider community. Whilst it seems that the exhibition doesn’t quite realise its full potential in terms of critiquing the posters displayed this is, nonetheless, a challenging and unique exhibition that will be of interest to anyone seeking to understand Britain’s Imperial past and it’s modern day legacy.
Robbie Wilson In Translation: Women, Migration and Britishness will be on display until 25th February 2013.
ON STAGE
Polly Findlay’s production of The Country Wife at the Royal Exchange is a rampantly sexualised farce set in Seventeenth Century London. The play, so scandalised censors that it was not performed for 200 years; William Wycherley rips apart all decent behaviour in the comic romp. Young wits cuckold jealous husbands from start to finish. This play gives clear warning to married men to not let their wives near the theatre. There are no honourable men to be found, and the play is a raucous delight for that. The ‘innocent’ country wife (played deliciously by Amy Morgan) alone has anything approaching a moral compass but is so naive and easily manipulated as to be worthy of pity. The RSC’s production of Julius Caesar has a far greater concern for honour. Produced by Gregory Doran (the new Artistic Director of the RSC), the most well-known of Shakespeare’s Roman play is set in an African state: a pertinent setting to debate dictatorship. Frankly, the play is simply too long; much better that Shakespeare had stowed his quill after the funereal speeches following the Et Tu Brute assassination. We could have done with the curtain coming down after we -friends, Romans, countryman – had leant Mark Anthony our ears rather than having an half an hour of campfire mumbling, battlefields and suicides that the numerous schoolchildren– possibly fairly - found highly entertaining. Brutus’ slave boy (Simon Manyonda) provided delightful comic relief throughout and his traditional musical instrument kept the second half going. Individual performances were mixed, Paterson Joseph (Brutus) and Ray Fearon (Mark Anthony) outshone the rest in passion and good old-fashioned enunciation.
Charlie Bush
YEARS OF THE DOG On the 3rd of October The University of Manchester Museum opened its doors to launch the new exhibition, Breed: The British and Their Dogs. I anticipated a parade of different canine companions by their doting owners. However, it turned out to be an extremely fascinating exhibition on how dogs have been used to depict British pride and unity in various forms of marketing and propaganda. It explores how the culture of owning and breeding dogs has changed since the innovative Victorian age. This has often been glamorised in popular culture, an example being the Borzoi breed being an accessory in a feature in Vogue in the 1920’s. The project has been undertaken by the University’s Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine and supported by the Arts & Humanities Research Council. It focused on six specific breeds that each had especially interesting relationships with our British history: the Bloodhound; Borzoi; Irish Wolfhound; Pekingese; Bulldog and Collie. I felt that the Irish wolfhound was of special importance to the researchers of the exhibition as this is the most famous example of the ‘bespoke’ or ‘designer’ aspect of dog breeding. Between 18631909 a Scotsman called George Augustus Graham wanted to revive the breed that had disappeared from Britain in the 1760s, at the same time as the wolf died out., He achieved this by cross-breeding a variety of dogs he bought in Ireland with ‘ancient blood’ to create the perfect end result. The most relevant breed to our recent history that was on show was the familiar British Bulldog. It was heralded in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries as a national hero; a dog used by butchers tocontrol cattle at stockyards, therefore ‘supplying the country with a rich reserve of meat’. The use of the breed for bloody sports such as bull and bear baiting in the nineteenth century meant it was more often related with criminal activity than stockyards. This rapidly changed in the early twentieth century when the bulldog was a cultural icon, representing Britain for its strength and determination during the World Wars. The importance of the bulldog, though,
mustn’t overshadow the other breeds represented for their ‘Britishness’ at the exhibition. The image of the Bloodhound will forever be caricatured wearing a deer-stalker and cloak in Britain for its deep-rooted links with tracking criminals. The Bloodhound is , undoubtedly the Sherlock Holmes of British breeds. The Pekingese originated and was a very important breed in China, but many of them were looted from the Emperor’s palace by British soldiers during the Second Opium War (1856-60), and one was given to Queen Victoria as a gift (appropriately named Looty). Breed: The British & Their Dogs is open until 14th April 2013. The History Department’s Dr Julie-Marie Strange is a member of the research team for this project. Bethany Gent
HISTORY SOCIETY ANNOUNCEMENTS What’s going on the History Society this year? Once again the History Society has an action-packed calendar for students to take part in and enjoy, making the most out of their time at one of the most exciting departments in the University. Being free to join and open to all students, the Society has a wide range of activities organised and we hope you find something to enjoy and participate in. From showpiece events such as the trip to Prague to practical career events and academic advice the Society is well and truly one of the most varied, popular and successful societies in the University. With a wide variety of social events in Manchester from nights out, pub quizzes, and museum trips we hope to see you out and about with us very soon! Naturally, with so much going on this year it is impossible to put it all onto one page, but here are some of the highlights of which you can get involved in: The Prague trip: After those pesky January exams we like nothing more than getting away from the Uni bubble and relaxing. So why don’t you join us as we head for a weekend of sampling all that the cultural centre of central Europe has to offer. Last year over 100 people came with us to Berlin trying to forget those post-exam blues, and demand is looking sure to outstrip supply once again, so make sure you book your place asap! Sports teams: Just like us, many of you probably aimed to make lots of new friends at Uni while not letting those late night take-aways and hungover lunchtime pizzas ruin your body. Well good news, it is possible! Make lots of new friends whilst playing sport in an extremely social and enjoyable environment. We have netball, football, cricket and mixed-hockey sides so we’re sure you can find a sport that you enjoy. Overall, our main advice would be to get out there and try something with the Society, as it’s there for you to
History Society Academic Officers Thom Elison-Scott Philippa Stannard The Academic Officers are the student representatives for History and joint programmes students. We can raise any problems or issues that you are having with the Department, we can guarantee your anonymity. Email us at thom.ellison-scott@student.manchester.ac.uk philippa.stannard@student.manchester.ac.uk We have a drop-in session every Monday from 1-2pm in the History Common Room in Samuel Alexander. 7th November – Essay Clinic. Come and get advice from more experienced undergraduate.
HISTORY SOCIETY PUB QUIZ
EVENTS 24th October Pierre Fuller, Famine and Society in Warlord China, 1920-21 1-2pm, Samuel Alexander S3.1 25th October BPP sponsored “Want to Be a Lawyer?” information session, 3.30pm, Samuel Alexander SG1. (1st of 4 sessions) 7th November An Insight into Non-Traditional Careers (including the creative and charity sectors), 1.15-2.45pm, Mansfield Cooper, G19 (all SALC students) 7th November History Society Essay Drop-in Workshop (time and place TBC) 8th November Alexandra Walsham (Cambridge), History, Memory and the English Reformation, 4pm for 4.15pm, Room 4.206, University Place 14th November Charles Insley, The End of the Celtic Latin Charter Tradition Revisited? 1-2pm, Samuel Alexander S3.1 14th November Law Careers for Non-Law Students, 1.30-3.30pm, Mansfield Cooper G19 (all SALC students) 22nd November Holger Nehring (Sheffield), E. P. Thompson: War Experiences, Activism and Social History, 4pm for 4.15pm, Room 4.206, University Place 28th November Philipp Rössner, The Monetary Origins of Luther’s Reformation, 1-2pm, Samuel Alexander S3.1 29th November History Graduates Careers Advice Panel Event run in association with the History Society. Come and meet past graduates to talk about their careers. (time and place TBC) 6th December Miles Taylor (IHR), The Cult of Queen Victoria in India, 4pm for 4.15pm, Room 4.206, University Place
The Eight New Members of Staff in the History Department this semester. Dr Georg Christ - Lecturer in Medieval and Early Modern History. Dr Pierre Fuller – Lecturer in East Asian History- social history of modern China, currently focusing on humanitarian aid (disaster relief). Dr Sasha Handley – Lecturer in Early Modern History - cultural history of early modern England, with a particular focus on supernatural beliefs (ghosts) and histories of everyday life (sleep). Dr Charles Insley – Senior Lecturer in Medieval History - Early medieval Britain, especially state-formation; 10th-11th century England; medieval charters and documentary culture. Dr Chris Manias – Lecturer in Modern European History - 19th and 20th century history of science, currently focusing on popular and scientific discussions of evolution and deep time (cave men & prehistoric beasts). Dr Paul Oldfield – Lecturer in Medieval History -the Medieval Mediterranean (1000-1300); the Normans; urban communities; saints’ cults and relics. Dr Philipp Rössner – Lecturer in Early Modern History - economic and social history, especially monetary economics and monetary culture of sixteenth century Germany / eighteenth-century British economic history, especially Scotland / Mercantilism and economic development; commerce. Dr Jenny Spinks – Lecturer in Early Modern History - cultural history of northern Europe, with interests in print culture, religious polemic, gender, and natural history; currently working on ‘wonder books’ in the Reformation and Counter-Reformation. Dr Aashish Velkar - Lecturer in Economic History -British Industrial Revolution, Business History, Historical Metrology and Measurements, Standards and Standardisation and History of Technology. (Dr Velkar joined the department in second semester last year).