This ‘official history’ is an independent historical analysis of British Government policy making during the conflict known as the Troubles, drawing on previously unavailable official records as well as the testimony of policy-makers at the time. While not a comprehensive narrative history of the Troubles in its entirety, addressing British policy is important for understanding the past in Northern Ireland.
Official histories are a well-established process for providing commissioned historians with full and unfettered access to all materials, including closed and redacted files, and including those not yet transferred to the state archives. ‘Authorised histories’ refer to those commissioned from within an individual government department or service, and so do not have the government-ride remit of an official history, but a similar ethos underpins these. Read more.
Past examples of official histories have shown that historians have been given access to records they need and which would otherwise have been unavailable to them. For example, in writing the authorised history of MI6, Professor Keith Jeffery said ‘I have been given complete access to all of the relevant secret files for the period covered by the book, and the freedom to explore anything I find.’ An independent advisory panel has been established to oversee this process, and ensure that access is truly unfettered and that appropriate cooperation is forthcoming from across Government departments.
The name ‘official’ history, might suggest that the Government determines the content of the books, including any judgements expressed in them. This was and has never been the case. Past examples of official histories have shown that historians have been free to write about what they found independently. Indeed, in many cases past official historians have been critical about previous government actions. The job of official historians is to analyse, not defend, the actions of governments in the past. The Pilling Review describes the principal purpose of official histories as allowing for accountability in addressing how policymakers discharged their responsibilities to the country.
Quote: “Official Histories are a record of government actions and decisions based on government sources. They are not government stories or means by which certain narratives might be perpetuated at the expense of others. They are the product of historical investigations by independent researchers. The Government pays the bill – it does not decide what is written.” – Professor Craig Stockings, Official Historian of Australian Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Australian Peacekeeping Operations in East Timor.
This project is an official history – the first commissioned since the 2008 review of the programme by Sir Joseph Pilling. That review set out a number of recommendations, including that the series be renamed to ‘Public History’. Sir Joseph found that the name ‘Official’ History wrongly suggested to some that the Government determines the content of the books, including any judgements expressed in them – which is not the case. ‘Public History’ also reflects a renewed emphasis on public engagement. It was in this spirit and with this commitment to public accountability and engagement that this project was originally titled ‘a public history of UK government policy during the Northern Ireland conflict’. However, the independent expert advisory panel has listened to feedback from within the academic community that the term ‘public history’ relates to a pre-existing field, in which a project of this nature does not neatly sit. As such, it has recommended the reframing of the title of the project to ‘An Official History of UK Government Policy During the Northern Ireland Conflict: The Archival Record’. The official history retains its commitment to ensuring that the widest possible public are able to engage with and benefit from the research conducted through this project.
Both the Official Historians, and the advisory panel, are conducting their work in complete independence and it has been made clear in the terms of reference that the government will cooperate fully. The Official History programme itself has a strong track record of producing objective histories that have added to the historical record, and in many cases been critical of past government actions.
The expert advisory panel has been appointed to act independently, to provide oversight and support, and to ensure the project is conducted rigorously, objectively and to the highest academic standards. If the panel concludes that there has been an irreconcilable deviation from the Terms of Reference, or other serious political interference in core scholarly values and judgements, they will say so clearly and publicly.
It is also worth noting that there is a strong international precedent for state commissioned historical projects, with this path being taken by a number of European countries, such as Germany, France, Spain, Austria and Sweden – showing that this can be done in a way that is objective and rigorous, making a valuable contribution to historical understanding.
This project will be subject to full research ethics review, in line with institutional and disciplinary standards and drawing on established best practice for previous official histories. The required ethics review may be conducted through a researcher’s home institution or, where required, by an appropriate disciplinary professional body. This will include a full data management plan, and appropriate mechanisms to safeguard research participants, including but not limited to oral histories where relevant. The expert advisory panel will also provide ongoing support to the researchers, ensuring that their wellbeing is safeguarded throughout, and engaging appropriate external ethical oversight and support as appropriate. An annual ethical review check-point will form part of the progress monitoring of the project. The advisory panel has consulted, and continues to consult, with experts in the field of ethics, as well as with official historians from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada and elsewhere, to ensure a robust ethical framework.
Like previous official histories, the project will culminate in a major book or books. However, in keeping with the recommendations of the Pilling Review, it is our intention to develop a range of public engagement strategies, including sharing interim findings via blogs, podcasts and academic articles, , and participating in a range of public and academic events, thereby engaging with a broad constituency. The advisory panel welcomes suggestions for further engagement
We estimate up to five historians working over five years, or a similar configuration representing twenty-five years of academic time in total, allowing for the major undertaking such a project demands. As an initial step, the advisory panel’s role is to ensure a transparent and rigorous recruitment process, for appointing the official historians. The panel invites historians interested in one of these roles to submit expressions of interest – further details available here.
Many historians have experienced difficulties accessing information during the course of their research on the Troubles. There are usually pragmatic and legal reasons why records are withheld by departments and agencies – for example, to mitigate risk-to-life of named individuals, protect privacy and civil liberties, or for national security reasons. Official Histories provide a well-established process for providing historians access to this sensitive archival material in a way that does not compromise these security concerns.
In his review of the programme, Sir Joseph Pilling described Official Histories generally as the ‘gold standard of accountability’ and transparency. They offer a way of reflecting on past policy and to draw lessons from experience. It is important to do so while those officials and politicians involved at the time can be engaged and share their views.
Providing access to state records has featured as a central pillar in dealing with the past in many other countries, and in keeping with wider efforts to promote reconciliation through better understanding of the past. It is the aim of the Advisory Panel to push for the accelerated release of state archives where possible.
As with all official histories, government departments and services have the right to remove specific information, for example relating to named individuals where their lives may be endangered. The independent official historians maintain the final say on any judgements, interpretations and conclusions. The advisory panel is committed to ensuring maximum transparency permitted within these limits.
All countries have records that cannot be disclosed – whether containing sensitive information about people and events (for example, records of individuals who are still alive who worked for the security and intelligence services) or records that could undermine current defence and security protocols if released. Official Histories provide a proven and secure process for revealing the content of those records, without compromising the specific details within them.
However, official or authorised histories have also expedited the opening up of records generally – for example, GCHQ announced it would release some source material simultaneously with the publication of Behind the Enigma, The Authorised history of GCHQ.