Dear Member,
Learning from the Past or Repeating Mistakes?
You are invited to attend a lecture by Dr. Andrew Blick, Director, History and Policy think tank, Director for Centre of British Politics and Government, King’s College London and member of UK Prime Minister’s History Steering Group.
About this lecture organised by Nanyang Technological University, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, and the British Council
The idea that we must ‘learn the lessons of history’ is a powerful idea in the contemporary world. The fact that it is a cliché does not diminish its power. Political leaders have always looked to history to inform and help them to explain their decisions.
Looking back at a range of political crises in recent British history from Suez to Brexit, Dr. Andrew Blick examines the use and abuse of historical analogies by political leaders. He considers potential pitfalls, including selection bias and the choice of inappropriate analogies, to the difficulty in applying historical understandings even when the correct analogies are identified.
Dr. Blick will argue that to be useful in politics and policy making historical analogies have to be carefully separated from popular myths, and must not be used to give cover to wishful political thinking. Historical research has a vital role to play in highlighting a wider matrix of ‘deep’ social, organisational and geopolitical interrelationships that political decision makers downplay or are liable to overlook.
Timings and Location:
When: Tuesday, 19 February, 2019
Time: Registration opens at 6.00 p.m. for a prompt 6.30 p.m. start.
Where: The Pod, Level 16, National Library, 100 Victoria Street; Singapore 188064.
Dress code: Business attire
Refreshments will be provided.
Please note that pre-booking is essential and places are limited.
To register for the event click here: https://
Regards,
Sally J. Clarke
Management Committee Member