Where is the ‘social’ reflections in social history?

Abstract

In most methodology books published since the mid-1990s, historical research is described by working out a list of the usual topics of research; political history, social history and economic history, sometimes with the addition of others such as cultural, religious, imperial or gender history. Besides being a list of research topics, this larger group has no other specific characteristics, unless they are given unconsciously or only implied. Only the so-called post-modern historiography is excluded from the list as a “good enemy” against which solid and respectable “history” wants to defend itself. In Defence of History by Richard J. Evans is the best example of larger group of recent methodology books in both these respects. One of the problems of defining “history” as a list of research topics is that it makes theoretical discussion within historical studies difficult, because disagreement on important issues would endanger the picture of disciplinary coherence and unity. The description of social history in Evans' book is given as an illuminating example of this awkward situation.