HISTORY FOR TOMORROW: ARE THE ANSWERS TO CURRENT CHALLENGES AND FUTURE PROBLEMS TO BE FOUND IN THE PAST?

In the book “History for Tomorrow”, philosopher Roman Krznaric argues that the way past communities overcame social, environmental and political problems, provides insights as to how we might address challenges like climate change, social inequality, and the future of democracy.  For Krznaric, history isn’t just a record of events. Rather it is a source of wisdom. It highlights how human ingenuity and collective action have overcome challenges, and we can draw on these in addressing current and future problems. This session will examine the potential of Krznaric’s vision of ‘radical hope’. It will explore examples of innovative solutions – both in the international arena and New Zealand - that demonstrate positive change is possible through learning from history and applying those lessons to the present. Mark Sheehan (PhD) is an historian and has been a teacher/researcher in the school/university sector for over 50 years. Derek Wallace (PhD) taught at Victoria University of Wellington for 25 years and published research on how post-war New Zealand governments have attempted to manage the future. Please note that this is a repeat of the sell-out session run last term.