What is Social History … ?

The Histories of Raphael Samuel

“…As a mode of reasoning, it provided us with a priori understandings and universal rules -laws of thought which were both a guide to action and a source of prophetical authority. 37 But the important point here is that initially his communism had been non-theoretical. It had been primarily social and behavioural.…”

“…As his mother, Minna, would later say, the experience of breaking with the party was 'shattering … far worse than giving up Judaism'. 37 So, more in a spirit of solidarity than personal choice, Samuel followed his friends and family members in resigning from the party.…”

“…Moreover, this time also saw a move away from 'workers' education' towards a more generalised notion of 'popular adult education', administered and organised within extramural university departments. 37 Strong objections to this were voiced by figures such as G.D.H. Cole.…”

“…37 Alexander's work concentrated on the relationship between the local St Giles fair and the industrial revolution. Howkins focused on the importance of poaching to the informal economic life of the Headington community.…”

“…36 Samuel was the first to sound the alarm, calling a forum on the subject published in History Today in 1984. 37 In fact, no other British historian became so involved and vocal in these debates. He followed them intently, writing multiple articles which appeared in the national press and, of course, organising a series of Workshops to address the topic, culminating with a number of 'teach-ins' held at Ruskin College, the first two addressing the immediate 'national curriculum question ) in response to the working group's report.…”