The Glaswegian historian gave a very good presentation on Monday morning. When leaving England a friend had said to him: "You're off home for the weekend then?" "HOME!" replied Ferguson. "I'm going to Edinburgh!" Some things never change...
Ferguson's talk was based on his The War of the World. In a wide-ranging talk we heard about the two world wars, the US in the Middle East, China, Russia, finance, the environment and much more. Ferguson told us that he'd learned quite a bit from Marx, but, in the event of a class war, he was on the side of the bourgeoisie.
There was a lot about Scotland. Ferguson thought that independence was likely eventually. It may well be thrust upon Scotland by England. It would probably be beneficial (eventually) by making Scots politicians responsible for raising cash as well as spending it. It won't all end in tears, but in yawns. In short, Scotland will have to learn to be like Denmark.
Chatting to him afterwards, he confirmed to me that he is in the camp of those of us who expect some kind of recession in the not-too-distant future.
(Nice "product placement" for Bulmers although Ferguson appeared to be having a pint of heavy.)
1 comment:
Comments made on previous template:
Rick Christie
NF was,secondarily at least, educated at GA, like Norman Stone and other historians like, er, myself, so his coming to Edinburgh, a city which can only boast a post-Reformation ' Scottish Redbrick' university, must always be seen as something of a come-down.
4 September 2007, 13:24:27 GMT+01:00
– Like – Reply
Purple Scorpion
Scotland's more than welcome to its independence. England's never going to ask you to leave while a Labour government needs its Scottish MPs. What prospect of a radical Tory government any time soon? Hahaha.
Ideally it should be England that secedes, and the rest of you can subsidise each other.
2 September 2007, 06:16:24 GMT+01:00
Post a Comment