Personal Statement:MA History and Politics

History and Politics Personal Statement

What attracts me about history is how, by analysing events and figures throughout time, we can gain an understanding of human beings. Do we share a common aim in life, and if so, what is that? History provides us with a multitude of answers to these kinds of questions, answers that point in different directions and often contradict each other. But this truthfully reflects the complex nature of human beings and their societies, and is what makes history an enthralling discipline. I was captivated by how Nietzsche used history in his 'Genealogy of Morals' to support his theory on the transformation of morality and, subsequently, society. Nietzsche's notion of will-to-power is also a significant political theme. It accounts for the development of institutions, such as the church. In turn, the history of these institutions forms part of a nation's identity, as in the case of the Church of England. I wish to explore how the combination of history and politics furthers knowledge in each discipline but also how it deepens understanding of nations and individuals.

Comparing Stalinism with Maoism highlighted the necessity to look for patterns in history. Further reading led me to Carr's views on patterns' greater significance as opposed to happenstances, which in his view, "teach no lessons". However as Gelvin demonstrates in his book 'The Arab Spring: What everyone needs to know', generalisation might result in oversimplification. Attempts to predict where and on what scale Arab revolts would occur by using the patterns of past uprisings undermined the 'extraordinary nature' of revolts, limiting our understanding of how they would develop. Gelvin reminds us of the 'human factor' of revolts that affects their development. When studying dictatorships, the risk of valuing leaders' actions as opposed to remembering the importance of the people's autonomy became evident.

My curiosity in relations between leaders and their people led me to 'The Prince'. A consideration of how Machiavelli's ideas remain relevant today proved stimulating. The importance for a prince to 'take [the people] under his protection' to secure power resonates in the introduction of neoliberalism in the Middle East, its effect on citizens' lives and the resulting fall from power of leaders such as Mubarak today. Other ideas in the book indicate it is not altogether timeless. That warfare is more important to a leader than politics is debatable. Throughout history leaders such as Napoleon have been both exceptional military commanders and administrators. What would be interesting to consider is the extent to which the period leaders ruled in influenced their ability or inclination to exercise either or both roles.

The extended essay provided an opportunity to explore my interest in how international relations affect nationalist struggles, a significant Cold War theme, which I investigated in the Angolan civil war. The Cold War provided a framework with which to approach the civil war, as a proxy war part of a larger conflict, and which affected my research and writing. This in turn underlined issues historians face; whether they should choose to write from a dominant perspective or attempt to be objective, or whether objectivity in history is even possible. These are keys issues because of how they affect the quality of a historian's work. Coming across counter-arguments to my thesis taught me to be flexible when approaching a new topic and assimilate different ideas to strengthen my judgement.

I look forward to exploring how the combination of history and politics furthers understanding of each discipline and of societies. A gap year will give me the maturity to capitalise on academic experiences and university life. I will spend it volunteering in Mozambique, acquainting myself with its history, participating in its development and improving my proficiency in Portuguese.

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