Ferguson’s triumph

The last episode of Niall Ferguson’s documentary series, Civilization, has just been aired — and for those who missed it, it’s time to buy the DVD box set. Or, better still, read the book. Ferguson is, for my money, one of the most compelling, readable and original historians writing today. His books stand out for throwaway lines which can change the way you think about what’s happening now. Understanding of history shapes our politics, whether we admit it or not. And myths about history also fuel political myths. How often do we hear it said that the Great Depression came about because government didn’t borrow in the hard times? A myth — but if enough people believe it, it can justify a government embarking on ruinous debt binge now. When David Cameron was tracing the world’s ills to British colonialists the other day, those who have read Ferguson’s Empire would be well-armed to know the extent to which the British empire was a force for good in the world.