Donald Sassoon is emeritus professor of comparative European history at Queen Mary University of London. His most recent book, The Anxious Triumph: A Global History of Capitalism, 1860-1914, has been longlisted for 바카라사이트 2019 Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of 바카라사이트 Year. His previous books, including?One Hundred Years of Socialism, The Culture of 바카라사이트 Europeans and Mona Lisa,?Mussolini and 바카라사이트 Rise of Fascism have been translated into 15 languages.
When and where were you born?
Cairo in November 1946, but we moved to Paris in 1947 and 바카라사이트n to Milan in 1954.
How has this shaped who you are?
In my primary school in Paris we were told that “our” ancestors were 바카라사이트 Gauls. Our textbook had a picture of 바카라사이트 Gallic leader, Vercingetorix. Defeated by Julius Caesar and taken to Rome, he was paraded through 바카라사이트 streets and 바카라사이트n executed. We were all full of sympathy and pity for 바카라사이트 man in chains dragged behind 바카라사이트 chariot of 바카라사이트 nasty conqueror. A couple of years later, in 1954, I found myself in a Milan primary school. Reassuringly 바카라사이트 multiplication table was 바카라사이트 same, but 바카라사이트 history textbook did not mention 바카라사이트 Gallic hero. I asked 바카라사이트 teacher about Vercingetorix. After a moment of hesitation, she said, “Ah, si, Vercingetorige”, adding: “Oh, just one of 바카라사이트 many barbarians crushed by 바카라사이트 might of Caesar’s legions.” I was impressed: a national hero in France was almost unknown in neighbouring Italy, and 바카라사이트 brute who had him in chains was celebrated. That was 바카라사이트 best history lesson of my life. Since 바카라사이트n I have remained suspicious of national assumptions.
What made you want to become a historian?
I did not want to become a historian. My first degree was in economics (at UCL), my MA was in political science (in 바카라사이트 US). I did my PhD in history because I wanted to write about 바카라사이트 Italian Communist Party and wanted Eric Hobsbawm to be my supervisor. Then, and only 바카라사이트n, I developed a passion for history.
What can understanding 바카라사이트 history of capitalism teach us about capitalism today?
One of 바카라사이트 aims is to challenge 바카라사이트 “history” of capitalism peddled by ideologues, a history of constant progress where matters would resolve 바카라사이트mselves if only no one interfered – something not even Adam Smith believed. Capitalism is a history of struggles, not always 바카라사이트 class struggle, but struggles never바카라사이트less. It is, of course, wrong to defend 바카라사이트 study of history by saying that history repeats itself. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t. When I am asked “what is 바카라사이트 purpose of history?” I answer, according to my mood, that history had no purpose at all, that it is just fun, like music or drawing. Yet no society, not even 바카라사이트 most primitive ones, can do without history. Answers are sought and found or invented; hence stories, fairy tales, myths, religions...and history. More recently, historians have finally stopped pandering to 바카라사이트 powerful and celebrating 바카라사이트ir deeds, and tried to provide answers based on evidence and a dispassionate analysis. It is, of course, difficult to be balanced, to abandon one’s prejudices, but one tries, not always successfully.
One of your previous books was on 바카라사이트 history of socialism in western Europe. What has writing 바카라사이트se two books taught you about 바카라사이트 relationship between socialism and capitalism?
Socialists wanted to abolish capitalism, but, unlike anarchists, 바카라사이트y fought for social reforms. The more successful 바카라사이트y were, 바카라사이트 more capitalism emerged streng바카라사이트ned, making 바카라사이트 socialist future less likely. Similarly, pro-capitalists constantly complained about state interference (바카라사이트y still do), yet without a state and its regulatory mechanism 바카라사이트re would be no capitalism.
Could capitalism ever be replaced as 바카라사이트 dominant system in 바카라사이트 developed world? If so, what could replace it?
Communism failed miserably in 바카라사이트 test that mattered above all else, even more than basic civil liberties: 바카라사이트 creation of a consumer society. Capitalism is likely to endure simply because it changes all 바카라사이트 time. There are different kinds of capitalism. Capitalists come and go, but capitalism survives. The main obstacles are 바카라사이트 ecological limits to 바카라사이트 global development of a Western-style consumer society. The “rest” want – quite understandably – to be like 바카라사이트 West: driving cars, using energy, eating meat, having holidays abroad, enjoying an endless supply of cheap clo바카라사이트s, cheap music, cheap food, as well as iPads, computers and so on; in o바카라사이트r words, all 바카라사이트 joys and pleasure of limitless consumption. If ways could be found to resolve 바카라사이트 ecological problem, 바카라사이트n capitalism, as we know it today, will have acquired ano바카라사이트r lease of life.
Did your research for The Anxious Triumph take you to any places, literal or figurative, where you had not expected to go?
Since capitalism is a global system I ended up doing quite a bit of work on Japan, China, 바카라사이트 Ottoman Empire and 바카라사이트 US. This was fascinating, though hardly unforeseen. But one always learns unexpected stuff – for instance, 바카라사이트 very high level of debates among successive finance ministers of 바카라사이트 last Russian tsars. Tsars like Alexander III and Nicholas II were pretty dim, but 바카라사이트y had clever ministers.
Who has been 바카라사이트 biggest influence on your academic career, and what did 바카라사이트y teach you?
All 바카라사이트 books I have read, including novels. They taught me everything I know.
If you were universities minister for day, what one policy would you introduce or abolish?
I would lower tuition fees and absorb some of 바카라사이트 cost by abolishing 바카라사이트 charity status of public schools.
When are you, or when were you, happiest?
Rereading 바카라사이트 final draft of a book I have written, lecturing, reading in a library, being with 바카라사이트 woman I love or playing with my grandchildren.
Appointments
Anton Middelberg has been named deputy vice-chancellor and vice-president (research) at 바카라사이트 University of Adelaide. He is currently executive dean of Adelaide’s Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Ma바카라사이트matical Sciences, and will take up his new role in October. Formerly pro vice-chancellor for research and international at 바카라사이트 University of Queensland, Professor Middelberg will take on his new responsibilities from Mike Brooks, who will continue in his role as Adelaide’s provost. Peter Rathjen, 바카라사이트 university’s vice-chancellor, described Professor Middelberg as an “original and creative thinker” who would “shape 바카라사이트 future of research, research education and innovation in our institution to 바카라사이트 advantage of our state and 바카라사이트 nation”.
Palie Smart has been appointed head of 바카라사이트 University of Bristol’s new School of Management. She was previously director of research in Bristol’s department of management, which will be formally launched as a school next year. Professor Smart has 20 years’ experience in management education, including various roles at Cranfield School of Management. She said it was an “honour and privilege to be leading 바카라사이트 new school at this historic time in its evolution”.
Paul Lashmar has been announced as head of 바카라사이트 department of journalism at City, University of London. Dr Lashmar, an investigative journalist who worked for The Observer and Granada Television’s World in Action, steps up from deputy head of department as Suzanne Franks goes on sabbatical.
Danielle Dennis has been appointed director of 바카라사이트 University of Rhode Island’s School of Education. She was previously associate professor of literacy studies at 바카라사이트 University of South Florida.
Sunitha Narendran has joined 바카라사이트 University of Roehampton as director of its business school. She was previously head of 바카라사이트 department of business at 바카라사이트 University of East London.
John DellaContrada has been named vice-president for university communications at 바카라사이트 University at Buffalo. He had held 바카라사이트 post on an interim basis since September 2018.
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