Don't use history as your only guide for politics

In a sense, history and politics are parts of the same beast that dominates civilization.

Both subjects sustain the essence of humanity within their academic troves. Both detail the clashes and collaboration of our diverse values and cultures.

Because these two subjects work together so well, they are often used in such a way that they overwhelmingly complement each other. It is true; knowing the tragedies of World War II can help us prevent genocide, understanding the abhorrence of colonialism can help us foster humanity’s diversity and comprehending the biases of America’s social hierarchy can help us seek social justice (immigration, gay marriage, women’s rights, anyone?).

But while history can be a major source of enlightenment to current political thought, if we only use its example, we will fail to address political issues properly. History, while good for providing some possibilities for action, sometimes frames a debate within the bounds of a past context, which skews how we perceive political events and constrains our responses to historical contexts.

Whenever viewing a political situation or making a political decision, one should use history to foster debate but not let it dominate the rationale. Instead, we need to utilize the benefit of all sciences and reasoning to understand the complexity of politics.

For example, many have been viewing the situation in Egypt as a possible repeat of 1979 in Iran. Knowing that history is good for fostering some ideas, we can conclude that it is in fact possible for an Islamic faction to radicalize during the revolution and then seize control in a power vacuum.

But focusing solely on history, this possible outcome, and making choices accordingly, would fail to capture the true nature of the Egyptian revolution.

Currently, many are using history as a rationale as to why they believe it is likely Egypt could become a radical Islamic state. To Americans, especially those alive in 1979, the Muslim Brotherhood is a possible seed to a radical Islamic state.

The truth of the matter is Iran and Egypt are two very different examples, and the Islamic forces inside each of those revolutions are also very different. Furthermore, the Islamic factions inside Iran and Egypt are very different. The Muslim Brotherhood advocates nonviolence and has separated itself from radical Islamic groups who have legitimized the use of violence through the spread of Islam.

The Brotherhood is much more a social organization than a political party. As such, while it is possible that the Muslim Brotherhood could have candidates come to power and then become radicalized in a power vacuum, the prerequisites for this to happen combined with all the other forces at play make this outcome of a radical Islamic Egypt unlikely.  

If we focus on history and the threat of a radical Islamic state, we are missing the greatest force in the current Egyptian revolution. The people who have really been driving the rallies in the streets have been the youth. With a median age of 24, Egypt has a large number of young people. In Cairo alone, almost three-fifths of the population is under the age of 30. With young people making up the bulk of Egypt’s population, the society is volatile. After the inspiration from Tunisia, the young people saw an opportunity to take the disdain with the government they’ve held for years and finally act on it.

Iman Armya, a resident of Cairo in Tahrir Square, said, “Facebook, (the) Internet, and the youth began (these) protests. All others were afraid and waited to see what would happen. (When) they saw that this began to work, (other groups) began to appear in protests. They (have) found a way to get what they wanted.”

Overall, history is a wonderful tool for political scientists. It allows them to understand the complexity of these intricate situations and their following conclusions. But it is also true that other social sciences (even hard sciences in cases) can provide the same or even more information to a pertaining political issue. Political decisions affect almost all aspects of reality. As such, it is important that these decisions are made precisely, compassionately and carefully.

With this in mind, perhaps the age-old saying, “We learn from history that we don’t learn from history,” could be a thing of the past.


E-mail: mdshowal@indiana.edu