Edinburgh International Book Festival 2004 14 - 30 August

Edinburgh International Book Festival

Scottish History Forum - What is Scottish History For?

Main Theatre 4.30-5.30 p.m. Thursday, 26th August, 2004

Reviewer; Bill Dunlop

The Scottish History Forum promised to be one of the highlights of the 2004 Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Opening submissions from Richard Finlay, a prominent historian of Scotland in the twentieth century, and Edward Cowan, Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Glasgow and a specialist in the sixteenth century, however, did little to suggest that the rest of the hour would be spent in open and rigourous debate. Rather, we suffered a further demonstration of the ‘Here’s tae us. Wha’s like us’ school of Scottish historiography, which even a brief bow in the direction of apologising for Scots participation in the enterprise which was the British Empire did little to assuage. The usual targets - English anglo-centricity (the Scots, of course, are never as self-obsessed), the wickedness of the British Empire (which Scots, of course neither helped create nor profited by), and our perpetually democratic, welcoming and completely non-xenophobic natures (except, of course where our southern neighbours are concerned, and that, of course, doesn’t count). The late Marinell Ash, whose ‘The Strange Death of Scottish History’ remains one of the few serious works of historiography written in and on Scotland this century, bemoaned that by the mid nineteenth century the Scots ‘had lost their history and gained a kailyard’. Although a number of distinguished historians, both Scots and those writing form other perspectives, particularly English and Irish ones, have sought to redress the balance and address the issues, Scottish history sees resolutely mired in a mind-set in which the only relief lies in recrimination. Although one or two questioners sought to open up and broaden this narrow debate, there was little sign or sound of minds being changed as the event drew to a merciful close.

Copyright Bill Dunlop,published by Edinburghguide.com 25th August, 2004