Books & ideas

The Ghosts of Colonisation

Igor Martinache & Jules Naudet — 2024-01-19T09:00:00Z

What traces have colonial enterprises left behind? By confronting the public history of colonialism in the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe with that of his own family, Simukai Chigudu reveals the repressed part of the colonial legacy and how it continues to fuel the cycle of violence.

Brexit: Follow the Money

Alicia Mornington — 2023-12-28T09:30:00Z

Marlène Benquet and Théo Bourgeron believe that the root cause of Brexit can be found in a transformation of capitalism, which they say has shifted from a neo-liberal system to a libertarian and authoritarian model. But does this view not overlook the role of singular actors and the vagaries of history?

Operation Pied Piper: Britain's Forgotten War Children

Marilyn Johnston — 2021-12-23T09:29:16Z

On the eve of the Second World War, more than a million British children were evacuated to the countryside for their protection. Hailed as a patriotic success, the ‘Operation Pied Piper' was actually marred by accusations of abuse. Despite growing media coverage and public awareness, survivors still await reparation.

Elections for Sale?

Emmanuelle Avril — 2020-10-14T07:00:00Z

Great Britain only belatedly passed certain laws regulating the funding of political parties. With a small share of public money and varied sources of private funding, this system is accused of favouring large donors and extremism. These criticisms invite us to think of a fairer system.

British Protectionism Through the Ages

Ophélie Siméon — 2019-05-09T06:00:00Z

As Brexit looms, some predict that protectionism will once again haunt Britain. In this context, historian David Todd reassesses the significance of an ideology which has profoundly impacted British history from the Empire up to the present day, thus reflecting on the deep bonds between politics, economy and national identity.

Grand Tourism: Educational Journeys in 18th Century Europe

Marion Amblard — 2018-10-29T08:00:00Z

The Grand Tour was a journey on the European continent undertaken by 17^th and 18^th-century British aristocrats to perfect their education. This book reveals the importance, within this trip, of a city until now overlooked by scholarship: Turin, a political and cultural crossroad.

Guilty of Being Poor

Neil Davie — 2017-01-12T08:00:00Z

In La Prison des Pauvres, Jacques Carré considers the history of poverty and poor relief in England between the 17^th and early 20^th centuries, focusing in particular on the complex evolution of the workhouse system. Often dreaded by paupers for its harsh discipline, it dominated English responses to poverty for several centuries, and was not abolished until after World War Two.

British Islam's Creativity

James Beckford — 2016-10-06T07:00:00Z

Through a rich ethnography of three shariʽa councils, American anthropologist John Bowen shows convincingly that in the UK, the real debate about Islam is not between non-Muslims and Muslims, but among Muslims themselves.

Studying Social Class: Legacy & Renewal

Cristelle Terroni — 2016-07-18T09:00:00Z

A selection of five essays and reviews recently published in Books&Ideas discusses the legacy and renewal of social class studies in France, Great-Britain and India.

On Improbable Success: The Case of Richard Hoggart

Claude Grignon — 2016-06-13T07:00:00Z

Richard Hoggart (1918-2014), a poor child who went onto become a university professor, was the epitome of a successful scholarship student. The trajectory of this “exemplary counter-example” sheds light on the mechanisms of social reproduction when they prove inoperative and the distance that can be traveled from one's native milieu.