History & policy database
Opinion Articles
H&P encourages historians to use their expertise to shed light on issues of the day. If you are interested in submitting an opinion piece for publication, please see our editorial guidelines. We currently have 342 Opinion Articles listed by date and they are all freely searchable by theme, author or keyword.
The debate on assisted dying: history tells us to put equity at the centre of decision-making
Laura King , Julie-Marie Strange | 14 February 2025 Assisted dying evokes strong opinions in an exceptionally complicated and ethically muddy context. Many politicians and professionals working in and around those dying, in palliative medicine, hospices, care homes, bereavement services and the like are truly divided on this issue, between a compassionate urge to help those […]
Read MoreSmoking and Vaping in Historical Perspective
Dr Michael Reeve argues that historical perspectives on the perceived benefits of smoking can help us understand why people continue to consume tobacco and nicotine products in the face of overwhelming evidence about their harmful effects.
Read MoreSyria: A Troubled Past and an Uncertain Future
The news about Syria is understandably dominated by by popular euphoria at the sudden overthrow of the brutal Assad regime. But as Roger Higginson reminds us, the inheritance of the country's new leaders is a daunting one and much will depend on regional and international factors beyond their control.
Read MoreExecutive power and judicial challenge in the USA: how the Supreme Court’s recent historic rulings restraining Biden’s Presidency may now become a restriction on Trump
Both progressives and conservatives might identify short-term opportunities in two recent rulings by the US Supreme Court. While their effect was to restrain the Biden presidency, they could equally be invoked in the future in opposition to Trump. But as Richard J Lazarus argues, the rulings themselves risk depriving the executive branch of government of the authority it needs.
Read MoreThe Next judgment: a landmark in the history of equal pay?
Despite the approach of the 55th anniversary of the 1970 Equal Pay Act and the 15th of the 2010 Equality Act, the recent employment tribunal ruling in favour of female workers at Next points to the continuing difficulty workers face in proving unfair treatment, particularly those in the commercial sectors. And more broadly, argues Susan Milner, society still needs properly to address the question of why women’s work has been devalued for so long.
Read MorePolicy and attitudes: historical roots of the stigmatisation of children in care today
The government’s new Children’s Wellbeing Bill, announced in the King’s Speech, represents a welcome move to improve child protection. But Annie Skinner argues that the measures proposed do not address the long-standing issue of the stigmitisation of children in care.
Read MoreAI and the ‘spooky stuff’: a future history of the human
As policy-makers and scientists gather in San Francisco for the AI Action Summit, historians are well placed to help us imagine the more counter-intuitive or unexpected consequences of a future living with advanced AI. What’s the ‘spooky stuff’ that some believe sets us apart from machines? And how could that lead to a new ‘religious turn’ in our communities and public life?
Read MoreTrump 2.0 and the US-UK Special Relationship: A Role still for History and Memory in the Diplomatic Strategy?
How should the government of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer approach US-UK relations in the light of the recent electoral victory of Donald Trump? Dr Sam Edwards argues that despite the president-elect’s famously ‘transactional’ nature, British diplomats might still find the ceremony and ritual of ‘memory diplomacy’ useful. He also outlines a potential long term diplomatic strategy for the UK government based on the continued importance to the US military of British real estate, a careful diplomatic pivot to Europe, and keen attention to the likely future leadership of the Republicans.
Read MoreThe Next judgment: a landmark in the history of equal pay?
Despite the approach of the 55th anniversary of the 1970 Equal Pay Act and the 15th of the 2010 Equality Act, the recent employment tribunal ruling in favour of female workers at Next points to the continuing difficulty workers face in proving unfair treatment, particularly those in the commercial sectors. And more broadly, argues Susan Milner, society still needs properly to address the question of why women's work has been devalued for so long.
Read MorePolicy and attitudes: historical roots of the stigmatisation of children in care today
The government's new Children's Wellbeing Bill, announced in the King's Speech, represents a welcome move to improve child protection. But Annie Skinner argues that the measures proposed do not address the long-standing issue of the stigmitisation of children in care.
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