teaching the history of the big society some ideas from the outset george campbell gosling oxford...

Teaching the History of the Big SocietyTeaching the History of the Big Society

Some Ideas from the OutsetSome Ideas from the Outset

George Campbell GoslingGeorge Campbell GoslingOxford Brookes UniversityOxford Brookes Universitygcgosling@brookes.ac.ukgcgosling@brookes.ac.uk

Reasons for making charity and civil society a Reasons for making charity and civil society a central theme in the teaching of modern British central theme in the teaching of modern British

historyhistory

1. Sources

2. Debates

3. Relevance

Painting of the Trial of Bill Burns in 1822, Painting of the Trial of Bill Burns in 1822, the world’s first prosecution for animal crueltythe world’s first prosecution for animal cruelty

If I had a donkey wot wouldn't go,

D' ye think I'd wollop him? No, no, no!

But gentle means I'd try, d' ye see,

Because I hate all cruelty.

If all had been like me, in fact,

There'd ha' been no occasion for Martin's Act

Music Hall Music Hall dittyditty

SOURCESSOURCES

DEBATES AND THEORIESDEBATES AND THEORIES

‘Social control’ and the ‘gift relationship’ – class relations

DEBATES AND THEORIESDEBATES AND THEORIES

‘Social control’ and the ‘gift relationship’ – class relations

Did philanthropy liberate women from the domestic sphere?

DEBATES AND THEORIESDEBATES AND THEORIES

‘Social control’ and the ‘gift relationship’ – class relations

Did philanthropy liberate women from the domestic sphere?

Did the rise of the welfare state crowd out civil society?

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DEBATES AND THEORIESDEBATES AND THEORIES

‘Social control’ and the ‘gift relationship’ – class relations

Did philanthropy liberate women from the domestic sphere?

Did the rise of the welfare state crowd out civil society?

Social science approaches – such as the creation of ‘social capital’

RELEVANCE: HISTORICALRELEVANCE: HISTORICAL

Poverty and welfare Class relations

Role of women Cultural associations

Imperial networks Minority groups

Social change Moral debates

RELEVANCE: CONTEMPORARY DEBATERELEVANCE: CONTEMPORARY DEBATE

To summarise:

The history of charity and civil society is ripe of teaching

Both sources and historical debates are plentiful and varied

It offers a way into a wide range of historical themes

Relevance to political debates is not new and should be embraced