studying history and culture

Studying History and Studying History and CultureCulture

Dr. Peter CullenDr. Peter Cullen

University of Urbino Carlo BoUniversity of Urbino Carlo Bo

Winter 2010Winter 2010

What does it mean to study What does it mean to study history?history?

The language process uses a The language process uses a codecode to to communicatecommunicate a a messagemessage from a from a producerproducer to a to a receiverreceiver – but: – but:

Each variable depends on its relationship to the Each variable depends on its relationship to the other variables for understanding to happen.other variables for understanding to happen.

ProducerProducercodecode

messagemessage

communicationcommunication

receiverreceiver

understandingunderstanding

Feedback loop at each Feedback loop at each stagestage

= memory + memory= memory + memory= shared experience= shared experience= common history= common history



History is a cultural account of shared History is a cultural account of shared experience.experience. Culture operates with a similar Culture operates with a similar process.process.

It includes language, but also:It includes language, but also:

Physical relationships with the internal and Physical relationships with the internal and external environments (mind – body, nature external environments (mind – body, nature – nurture) based on the sensory perception.– nurture) based on the sensory perception.

Psychological perception, processing, Psychological perception, processing, memory and physical activation.memory and physical activation.

Studying Culture and Studying Culture and HistoryHistory

Studying Culture and Studying Culture and HistoryHistory

Prof. Peter CullenProf. Peter CullenUniversity of Urbino Carlo BoUniversity of Urbino Carlo Bo


Prof. Peter CullenProf. Peter CullenUniversity of Urbino Carlo BoUniversity of Urbino Carlo Bo



The language process uses a The language process uses a codecode to to communicatecommunicate a a messagemessage from a from a producerproducer to a to a receiverreceiver – but: – but:

Each variable depends on its relationship to the Each variable depends on its relationship to the other variables for understanding to happen.other variables for understanding to happen.

ProducerProducercodecode

messagemessage

communicationcommunication

receiverreceiver

understandingunderstanding

Feedback loop at each Feedback loop at each stagestage




History is a cultural account of shared History is a cultural account of shared experience.experience. Culture operates with a similar Culture operates with a similar process.process.

It includes language, but also:It includes language, but also:

Physical relationships with the internal and Physical relationships with the internal and external environments (mind – body, nature external environments (mind – body, nature – nurture) based on the sensory perception.– nurture) based on the sensory perception.

Psychological perception, processing, Psychological perception, processing, memory and physical activation.memory and physical activation.

What is Culture?What is Culture?

Learning cultureLearning culture:: Pierre Bourdieu and Pierre Bourdieu and fieldfield, , habitus, doxahabitus, doxa

Field: the arena of social interaction – verticle and horizontal – constituted by the relational differences of social agents.

Habitus: lasting aquired schemes of perception, thought and action internally developed by social agents in reaction to objective conditions (i.e. of field).

Doxa: deep-founded, unthought beliefs that inform an agent’s actions in the field. Universal concepts. These propagate the structure of the field.

What is the role of culture in What is the role of culture in society?society?

People are socially People are socially dependent.dependent.

Social dependency Social dependency requires requires communicationcommunicationof some form to:of some form to:

EstablishEstablish behaviour – behaviour – NORMSNORMSReinforceReinforce accepted or accepted or functional behaviourfunctional behaviourLearnLearn boundaries of boundaries of acceptance/refusalacceptance/refusal

The learning feedback The learning feedback loop makes culture loop makes culture active:active:

It is the ways in which a society establishes, reinforces, and limits its behaviours within the group.

Bourdieu and CultureBourdieu and Culture

• HabitusHabitus reconciles the reconciles the objectiveobjective (field) and the (field) and the subjectivesubjective (doxa) (doxa)..

• Objective realitiesObjective realities are subjectively assimilated by are subjectively assimilated by the individual social agent, creating a subjective the individual social agent, creating a subjective agreement about external social structures – field.agreement about external social structures – field.

Key concept:Key concept:

Culture is learned behaviourCulture is learned behaviour

What is the role of culture in the What is the role of culture in the history?history?

The concepts and actions that we define as The concepts and actions that we define as “historical” are bound by culture.“historical” are bound by culture.

What What are some conceptsare some concepts of “history” of “history”

Understanding of the past – particularly in human Understanding of the past – particularly in human societiessocieties

Understanding of:Understanding of:•timetime•changechange•human behaviourhuman behaviour•animal behaviouranimal behaviour•the environmentthe environment

Culture - product ofCulture - product ofbehaviourbehaviourmessagemessagemeaningmeaning ((It ain’t ME you’re lookin’ for – babe!It ain’t ME you’re lookin’ for – babe!))

ContextContextRelationshipRelationshipTimeTime

What is “historical knowledge”?What is “historical knowledge”?

What are institutions?What are institutions?Collins: an established custom, law or relationship in Collins: an established custom, law or relationship in

community or societycommunity or society

i.e. i.e. - the family- the family- markets- markets- leadership- leadership- religion- religion- sport, infrastructure, education, medicine, - sport, infrastructure, education, medicine,

etc.etc.

““History” makes cultural History” makes cultural cchoiceshoices about which about which institutions to preserve in public memory.institutions to preserve in public memory.

History, Culture and institutionsHistory, Culture and institutions

For example: For example: businessbusiness is a social is a social institutioninstitution AND a social AND a social systemsystem

It is a It is a dynamic structuredynamic structure

SOSO

It is a It is a historical structurehistorical structure

Business is the formalisation and standardisation of Business is the formalisation and standardisation of human economic behaviour.human economic behaviour.

this has a historythis has a history

this influences other types of history, behaviour, etc.this influences other types of history, behaviour, etc.


Does business need history?Does business need history?

YES!YES!All human structures and systems benefit from an All human structures and systems benefit from an

understanding of each other.understanding of each other.

As a system – As a system – business mustbusiness must understand changeunderstand change..

Douglas North: “Douglas North: “political-economic systems are political-economic systems are KNOWN to no-one in their entirety, but human KNOWN to no-one in their entirety, but human beings construct elaborate beliefs about those beings construct elaborate beliefs about those realitiesrealities”.”.

How can we understand How can we understand beliefbelief? Does ? Does beliefbelief change? change?


As a As a vital systemvital system, business must understand:, business must understand:

beliefbelief: : principles accepted without proofprinciples accepted without proof

valuesvalues: : the allocation of significance to belief and the allocation of significance to belief and practicepractice

learninglearning:: the transmission of belief, values, the transmission of belief, values, practicepractice

practicepractice:: the production of actions the production of actions

- within the locale or - within the locale or regionregion of location of location

- within the locale or - within the locale or regionsregions of its of its stakeholdersstakeholders

- over - over timetime


Human institutions and systems have always Human institutions and systems have always existedexisted

What does historical understanding require?What does historical understanding require?

Analysis of Analysis of structuresstructuresAnalysis of Analysis of interactioninteractionAnalysis of Analysis of dynamicsdynamics and and changechange – in communities/society – in communities/societyInclusive factor Inclusive factor contextualisationcontextualisation

It requires a It requires a logiclogic for: for:

identification of identification of questionsquestionsanalysis of analysis of informationinformationcommunicationcommunication of learned information of learned information


Historical understanding provides tools for understanding Historical understanding provides tools for understanding change over timechange over time

in: in: structuresstructuressystemssystems

this helps identify this helps identify functionfunction in society.in society.

Lucien FebvreLucien Febvre (1922) (1922)human societies develop in relation to environmentshuman societies develop in relation to environments

Fernand BraudelFernand Braudel (1947) (1947)time changes at three levels:time changes at three levels:

event, conjuncture, long-termevent, conjuncture, long-term

Understanding change over time

Observed environments change according to Observed environments change according to Braudel’s construct:Braudel’s construct:

i.e. i.e. global warmingglobal warming::

long term patterns (40,000 year glacial cycles)long term patterns (40,000 year glacial cycles)conjunctural patterns – last 150 years = +.5°C conjunctural patterns – last 150 years = +.5°C event patterns – last 3 years – polar ice meltingevent patterns – last 3 years – polar ice melting

Agricultural societiesAgricultural societies changes dramatically with changes dramatically with environmental cycles at all three rates.environmental cycles at all three rates.

What about What about industrialindustrial societies? societies?What about What about service sectorservice sector societies? societies?


IndustrialisationIndustrialisation

has has increased the rate of changeincreased the rate of change in human societies in human societies

It has increased rates of It has increased rates of production and distributionproduction and distribution

It has permitted increased rates of It has permitted increased rates of consumptionconsumption

It has increased rates of It has increased rates of capital and information circulationcapital and information circulation

It It has changed fundamental aspects of It It has changed fundamental aspects of cultureculture

HOW?HOW?


The adoption of industrial processes The adoption of industrial processes decreased our the perception of decreased our the perception of uncertainty in society 1840 – uncertainty in society 1840 – 1940. (telegraph to WWII)1940. (telegraph to WWII)

Industrialisation increased our Industrialisation increased our expectations of predictability – expectations of predictability – scientific laws about societyscientific laws about society

1° in economics: 1° in economics: KondratieffKondratieff and and KeynesKeynes(long-term economic cycles and (long-term economic cycles and the “General Theory”)the “General Theory”)

This is structured knowledge, This is structured knowledge, learning, and culturelearning, and culture

The base of our economic culture The base of our economic culture today is still the industrial-today is still the industrial-oriented knowledge of the oriented knowledge of the 1930’s1930’s


Industrialisation has allowed many societies to move Industrialisation has allowed many societies to move wealth generation to the service sector – wealth generation to the service sector –

creating enormous value added in IT and information creating enormous value added in IT and information industries.industries.

We have a culture of predictability but access to massive We have a culture of predictability but access to massive volumes of information.volumes of information.

We no longer suffer the problem of lack of message.We no longer suffer the problem of lack of message.


For example: For example: Naomi KleinNaomi Klein claims that claims that brandingbranding is not is not only marketing – its production.only marketing – its production.

This reflects Bourdieu: interaction between This reflects Bourdieu: interaction between

belief, learning, productionbelief, learning, production

This interaction requires timeThis interaction requires time(interpretation, memory, application)(interpretation, memory, application)

Understanding this interaction requires analysis of Understanding this interaction requires analysis of contextual change over timecontextual change over time

Change, culture and historical process

Problem:Problem:

Douglas North suggests that institutions develop to Douglas North suggests that institutions develop to minimise minimise uncertaintyuncertainty in human and in human and human/environmentalhuman/environmental interaction. interaction.

So institutions are inherently slow to change.So institutions are inherently slow to change.

This places a social brake on learning.This places a social brake on learning.

Our culture Our culture learns institutionallylearns institutionally (that’s why you’re here). (that’s why you’re here).

But people do not always But people do not always behavebehave institutionally, and institutionally, and different societies learn and behave differently, leading different societies learn and behave differently, leading to different interpretation and different significance to different interpretation and different significance (values)(values)


In a structural sense, not allIn a structural sense, not all economic economic regions and regions and systems have systems have the same capabilities forthe same capabilities for performanceperformance..

Not all economic regions andNot all economic regions and systsystemsems have the same have the same cultureculture of of performanceperformance

i.e. Italy and the US or Italy and Iri.e. Italy and the US or Italy and Iraqaq

What are the differences?What are the differences?Why are there differences?Why are there differences?


Not all societies, not all areas of society, and not all institutions can shorten the time-frame of communications, production, distribution.

Economic sectors: agriculture, industry, services

Today, differences in regional economic performance Today, differences in regional economic performance are considered in relation to the “path to are considered in relation to the “path to industrialisation” taken by any state or region.industrialisation” taken by any state or region.

This is called “This is called “path dependencepath dependence”.”.

Path dependence theory introduces “dynamic” Path dependence theory introduces “dynamic” analysis” of society. As a theory, it began as a way of analysis” of society. As a theory, it began as a way of explaining different “explaining different “pathspaths” to industrialisation.” to industrialisation.

The problem is: relatively static institutions are self-The problem is: relatively static institutions are self-renewing, creating an “renewing, creating an “institutional cultureinstitutional culture” that ” that puts itself at the centre of socialisation and puts itself at the centre of socialisation and behaviour.behaviour.


Path dependence theory (Paul David, 2002 for an Path dependence theory (Paul David, 2002 for an overview) DOES add dynamic analysis to economic overview) DOES add dynamic analysis to economic understanding,understanding,

BUTBUT

uses our concept of industrialised and/or post- uses our concept of industrialised and/or post- industrialised society as its “industrialised society as its “measuremeasure” of the path.” of the path.

Our major economic institutions, the World Economic Our major economic institutions, the World Economic Forum, the IMF, the World Bank, the World Trade Forum, the IMF, the World Bank, the World Trade Organisation, etc. have globalised a western Organisation, etc. have globalised a western standard with the support of Nation-States.standard with the support of Nation-States.

i.e. our concept of money, our financial structures, our i.e. our concept of money, our financial structures, our culture of written contracts, our cultural expectations of culture of written contracts, our cultural expectations of propriety, negotiation, democracy, time (such as the propriety, negotiation, democracy, time (such as the quarterly report).quarterly report).


Like the experiment of the Like the experiment of the European UnionEuropean Union, each , each member of a global economy participates in that member of a global economy participates in that economy according to its own development – which economy according to its own development – which may or may not have previously included interaction may or may not have previously included interaction with western Europe or North America (most have)with western Europe or North America (most have)

Formal and informal institutions are not immediately Formal and informal institutions are not immediately comparable comparable

Even within European culturesEven within European cultures..

The The European modelEuropean model is not the first, nor the only model is not the first, nor the only model of world systems.of world systems.

Western societies must understand their role in global Western societies must understand their role in global interaction. Western institutions must update their interaction. Western institutions must update their learning regarding this – partially by better learning regarding this – partially by better understanding our peripheral past.understanding our peripheral past.


Historical knowledge is the best approach we Historical knowledge is the best approach we have for understanding differences between have for understanding differences between communities and societies – essential in communities and societies – essential in globalised contexts.globalised contexts.

Oh yeah, why are you here?Oh yeah, why are you here?

What is the role of culture in the What is the role of culture in the economy?economy?

Value:Value:

The establishment of value is abstract, fluxuating, and The establishment of value is abstract, fluxuating, and dependent on the cultural feedback loop.dependent on the cultural feedback loop.It combines primary necessity with utility (abstract)It combines primary necessity with utility (abstract)

Today, we use money to establish value.Today, we use money to establish value.

Luca Fantacci – money is:Luca Fantacci – money is:a means of exchangea means of exchangea measure of valuea measure of valuea reserve of valuea reserve of value

All dependent on the cultural feedback loop.All dependent on the cultural feedback loop.

What is the role of culture in What is the role of culture in society?society?

TIME: a dependent variableTIME: a dependent variable

The concept of time measures the rate of change. It The concept of time measures the rate of change. It is a is a tool.tool.

Tools are objects invented by man to interact with the Tools are objects invented by man to interact with the internal and external environment.internal and external environment.

i.e. i.e. Memory/activity requires timeMemory/activity requires time

production, distribution, consumption require production, distribution, consumption require timetime

The approach to time is fundamental in social The approach to time is fundamental in social interactioninteraction

It is fundamental to understanding historical changeIt is fundamental to understanding historical change

How does the culture of time How does the culture of time affect in the economy?affect in the economy?

““Time is money” – an Time is money” – an AmericanAmerican concept concept

This is not true in real terms, but the metaphor guides This is not true in real terms, but the metaphor guides AmericanAmerican business practices. business practices.

Can American concepts of time, expressed and Can American concepts of time, expressed and learned in their business practices, be applied in learned in their business practices, be applied in other parts of the world – such as other parts of the world – such as ItalyItaly??

Why? Why not? How?Why? Why not? How?

Why is this an important question for Why is this an important question for ItaliansItalians??

Abu-Lughud’s 13° Century World Abu-Lughud’s 13° Century World SystemSystem

Italy – physical geographyItaly – physical geography

• AlpsAlps

• AppenninesAppennines

• Tyrhennian SeaTyrhennian Sea

• Adraitic SeaAdraitic Sea

• Ionian SeaIonian Sea

• Gulf of GenoaGulf of Genoa

• Gulf of TarantoGulf of Taranto

• Po ValleyPo Valley

• Apulian PlainApulian Plain

• Po RiverPo River

• Tiber RiverTiber River

• Adige RiverAdige River

Italy: Regions - The NorthItaly: Regions - The North

• PiedmontPiedmont• LombardyLombardy• LiguriaLiguria• TrentinoTrentino• VenetoVeneto• FriuliFriuli• Parma and ModenaParma and Modena• Emilia-RomagnaEmilia-Romagna

CitiesCities::Turin, Milan, Genoa,Turin, Milan, Genoa,Trent, Parma, Modena,Trent, Parma, Modena,Verona, Bologna, Venice, Verona, Bologna, Venice, Udine, Trieste, RiminiUdine, Trieste, Rimini

Italy: Regions - The CentreItaly: Regions - The Centre

• TuscanyTuscany

• The MarchesThe Marches

• UmbriaUmbria

• LazioLazio

Cities:Cities:

Bologna, Rimini,Bologna, Rimini,

Florence, Pisa, Livorno,Florence, Pisa, Livorno,

Siena, Pesaro, Ancona,Siena, Pesaro, Ancona,

Fabriano, Perugia, Foligno,Fabriano, Perugia, Foligno,

Macerata, Ascoli, Assisi, Terni,Macerata, Ascoli, Assisi, Terni,

Viterbo, Rome, Latina, ApriliaViterbo, Rome, Latina, Aprilia

Italy: Regions – The SouthItaly: Regions – The South

• AbruzzoAbruzzo• CampaniaCampania• MoliseMolise• PugliaPuglia• BasilicataBasilicata• CalabriaCalabria• SicilySicily• SardiniaSardinia

Cities:Cities: Naples, Benevento,Naples, Benevento,Campobasso, Pescara, Bari,Campobasso, Pescara, Bari,Taranto, Lecce, Potenza, Taranto, Lecce, Potenza, Matera, Cosenza, Catanzaro,Matera, Cosenza, Catanzaro,Reggio Calabria, Messina, Reggio Calabria, Messina, Catania, Palermo, Trapani, Catania, Palermo, Trapani, Syracuse, Cagliari, SassariSyracuse, Cagliari, Sassari

Soil Characteristics in ItalySoil Characteristics in Italy

U.S

. Bu

rea

u o

f the

Ce

ns

us

Grain Harvest in the Marches Grain Harvest in the Marches (1940’s)(1940’s)

Threshing Grain (1940’s)Threshing Grain (1940’s)

Water Powered Flour MillWater Powered Flour Mill

Baking Equipment (1950’s)Baking Equipment (1950’s)

The Cattle Market (1939)The Cattle Market (1939)

A Land-owner on His HorseA Land-owner on His Horse

Women’s Work?Women’s Work?

Men’s Work? (transhumanceMen’s Work? (transhumance))

Field Accomodations for Migrant Field Accomodations for Migrant Labourers in Northern LazioLabourers in Northern Lazio

Pressing WinePressing Wine

studying history and culture

Technology

study history

memory memory

common history

culture habitus

learning culture

role of culture

culture active

language process