Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Even the very recent past should be considered history, so says the results of a poll commissioned by Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ History Magazine, published today. It found that that the majority of respondents believe the cut-off between current affairs and history occurred no more than ten years ago.

The poll was conducted to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the collapse of the Berlin Wall, a momentous event that has perhaps only recently begun to be thought of as history.

Almost a third (31 per cent) of the 1,897 respondents insisted that a single second in the past could be considered history. The second most popular response, with 28 per cent of the vote, was that a decade ago was when events shifted from the realm of current affairs.

Others polled thought that broader human memory was an important factor, believing that history comes into being when nobody is left alive who experienced an event. One respondent wrote: "If someone can still remember and talk about an event, it is still current and alive and could be classed as 'recent past' events. If it has to be read about or heard via [a] second generation or more, then it has passed into history."

Just 6% felt that the cut-off was 20 years ago, 4% opted for 30 years ago and a mere 1% believed that 40 years ago represented the boundary between history and current affairs. In contrast, some people preferred a more personal response. Of those surveyed, 4% felt that history began before their own birth. "If I can place myself with regard to the events, even if I was very young, I can’t look backwards to it", said one.

And it seems that the days when anything after the Second World War was considered too recent for history are long gone, with just four per cent plumping for history having begun 50 years ago.

Dave Musgrove, Editor of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ History Magazine commented: "This month is a particularly timely moment to consider when history ends and current affairs begins. We have the 1989 anniversaries of the demise of Communism, which famously led the political economist Francis Fukuyama to predict we were approaching the end of history (and we have an interview from Fukuyama in the magazine). Also, of course, November sees the first Cenotaph Remembrance Parade that won’t be graced by a First World War veteran. Some would say that the loss of the direct link with the past truly consigns an event to history. It’s fascinating to see where people draw their own historical lines."

The November issue of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ History Magazine goes on sale today, 27 October 2009, priced Β£3.80.

NOTES TO EDITORS
1,897 members of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Magazines Insiders panel responded to the survey, which asked: "When in your view do events in the past become history?"
The survey took place between 7 August and 12 August 2009. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Magazines Insiders panel is made up of readers of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ magazines who were contacted by email.

The results of the survey are as follows:

One second ago – 31%
10 years ago – 28%
20 years ago – 6%
30 years ago – 4%
40 years ago – 1%
50 years ago – 4%
Over 50 years ago – 4%
Before I was born – 4%
When no one is alive who experienced that event – 5%
Other – 12%

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ History Magazine also canvassed the views of a group of historians to find out where the academics see the cut-off to their subject. Their opinions are set out in a feature in the November issue.

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ History Magazine
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ History Magazine is the biggest selling and most authoritative history magazine in the UK. It has a monthly circulation of 63,888 (ABC Jan-Jun 2009) and is published by Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Magazines Bristol, a trading name of Bristol Magazines Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Worldwide Ltd., the main commercial consumer arm of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.

Carolyn Wray