Social History-New History

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the conception of 'new history" or 'history from below' and states that it has its foundations in a wide range of connected disciplines and contemporary theoretical trajectories and stances. The paper comments that the foundation of 'history from below' lies in the questioning of the hegemony of old and more elitist views of history and the context of historical reality The paper concludes that the writing of 'history from below' provides a much-needed and important part of historical research and discourse in contemporary scholarship.

Outline:
Introduction and Overview
British Multiculturalism
Conclusion

From the Paper:

" In conclusion it should be noted that the "new history" and the stance that takes its point of departure from 'below" in Britain owes much to the earlier Marxist historians. These historians are in fact seen as the "progenitors" of contemporary "history from below." (Kaye 182) Given this legacy in the British context it is not surprising that much of the historical research has been focused on the marginalized and disenfranchised cultures and sections of the population.
"For example there has been a great deal of research on the Asian and Pakistan immigration to the country. After the Second World War there was a large scale immigration of Muslims from various counties including North Africa to Britain. The central reason for this was the need in Britain for cheap industrial labor and they "...turned towards their former colonies in South Asia and North Africa to fill labour shortages... (What perspectives for Islam and Muslims in Europe?) Research into this area has produced numerous studies dealing with the prejudice and the alienation that these immigrants experienced. This type of research clearly shows the link and the connection between 'history from below' and multiculturalism and also suggests that these two concepts are inextricably intertwinwed in this new approach to history. While there are many detractors and critics of this new historical approach, there are also many who see 'new history' as advancing the aims of the discipline."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Brecher J. History From Below: How to Uncover and Tell the Story of Your
• Community, Association, or Union. 3 June 2007 http://www.stonesoup.coop/historybelow/historybelow.htm
• Gaskill, Malcolm. Crime and Mentalities in Early Modern England. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Questia. 3 June 2007 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=105489801>.
• Harrison R. History from below: approaches to the study of social history. 3 June 2007 <http://www.aber.ac.uk/modules/2006/HYM7230.html>
• Hill, Christopher. The English Revolution: 1640. London: Lawrence & Wishart.1940

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