Historia Inmediata

I can only agree with Senor Kotler. Argentina is only one example-- but nonetheless a very important one-- of why immediate history is not only possible but essential. There is always a place for rigour in method as a means of strengthening the quality of work and its pursuasiveness in recovering "truth in danger of disappearance".

It is important to recognise that there are agendas in the traditional historical methods defended by established and dominant scholarly institutions. One of these agenda items is to deny that events occur under our very eyes which are deliberately excluded from official and institutional history. Another is the standing struggle to assert that common people without access to repositories and vast documentary resources still create and participate as actors in history.

Just as Freire criticised "banking" for literacy programmes, immediate history is a provocation and criticism of the forces which would silence the present even by tossing historians out of helicopters, etc.

If only the central powers in Europe and North America were susceptible to this critique in the way that the rest of the world has been forced to recognise it.

In this sense may the holidays bring you all somewhat more justice for the new year than in the past.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen/ Sincerely/ Cordialement/ Atenciosemente/ Cordiali saluti

Dr. Patrick Wilkinson
Institute for Advanced Cultural Studies Europe
Kirchstrasse 32
D-40227 Düsseldorf

Volver