The Events of the Past Find Meaning in the Reality of the Present

Abstract

Because democracy, by definition, implies choice, the dilemma, option, and choice, should occupy the centre stage: how a given state of affairs posed an alternative of way of dealing with it, that is, the manner of proceeding rather than the outcome should be the centre of interest. This can be done only if the subject matter of history is presented in terms of conflict: a plurality of conflicting opinions, conflicting values, and conflicting interests. The knowledge about the conflict within the elite is potentially democratic because people who know the nature of it can involve themselves in politics or communication, even when they are not politicians themselves. The aim of knowing what is really on the national agenda is not to train future leaders but rather to enable the future generation to be spirited citizens, narrowing the gap between rulers and subjects. This article presents the following thesis regarding the teaching of history as the politics of the past.