The Use and Abuse of History in Conflicts

<strong>Centre for Historical Studies School of Social Sciences</strong> a Lecture <strong>"The Use and Abuse of History in Conflicts"</strong> <strong>Dr. Erkki Tuomioja</strong> University of Helsinki <strong>1st February 2016</strong> <strong>Summary:</strong> In today's world we should be increasingly concerned about both the ignorance and abuse of history in politics and how this impacts international relations. Ignorance also fosters abuse and abuse fosters conflicts. Historical myths are used to create and sustain enemy images and justify aggressive policies. Different views and interpretations of history and historical events often contribute to conflicts. But historians can also contribute to mediation and conflict resolution. International organisations and governments should welcome and support independent and international research and contacts between historians from all countries to encourage them to work together in defusing conflicts involving facts and interpretations of historical events. Historians can build cross-border understanding by bringing together different parties' perceptions and interpretations of such events. <strong>The Lecturer:</strong> The lecturer is Adjunct Professor in Political History at the University of Helsinki, M.P. in the Finnish Parliament, former Minister for Foreign Affairs (2000-2007 and 2011-2015) and Chairman of Historians without Borders in Finland.