Creating a New Historical Perspective: EU and the Wider World ...

1. Introduction to the Hidtory Subject Area
Why History?
History is one of the least recognised but most powerful forces in forming social
and political attitudes, in building our perceptions of ourselves and of others.
Received ideas of the past influence each person in his or her interaction with
society and with other individuals, in deciding on action to be taken and values
to be observed or enforced. Strangely, for something so pervasive, history is often
thought of as remote and unconnected with daily life. It is usually absorbed
in the form of ‘general knowledge’, and often assumes the form of widely shared
convictions, orientations and prejudices which derive from national narratives
formed in past political and cultural contexts in each country, but of which we
are hardly aware. The present context of European unification, enlargement and
consolidation creates particular challenges and opportunities for history and for
historians. Because pre-existing national elaborations of history are still prevalent
in national educational systems, European citizens may not be aware of how
little their ‘knowledge’ or ideas of the past resemble those of their neighbours.
And yet, Europe is truly founded on its history. The European Union is a unique
polity, built on the historical experience of tragic wars and conflicts between and
within the countries that compose it or may join it in the future.
In the past historians assisted in creating the ‘national’ and nationalistic attitudes
that contributed to those conflicts. Today their knowledge and perspective is
needed in order to contribute to building reciprocal knowledge and understanding
among Europe’s peoples. If the challenge is great, so are the opportunities.
We now have the possibility of designing and implementing incisive action
through pan-European collaboration on a variety of levels. For all disciplines,
the Bologna process – by which educational systems of European countries
come into ever closer contact – opens new opportunities. For none however are
the changes, the challenges and the opportunities greater than for History.
Tuning and History
Tuning Education Structures in Europe is a large-scale pilot project, which accompanies
and gives substance to the Bologna Process. Supported by the European
Commission, it is designed and implemented by Universities and other
Higher Education Institutions. It is based on the realisation that, in final analysis,
only higher education staff – collaborating with students and working in a