A UK-based charity is launching a new initiative to encourage secondary school pupils to debate the multifaceted legacy of the British Empire, exploring both its perceived advancements and its history of exploitation. Parallel Histories, an organization that partners with over 3,000 schools, has developed an online resource titled 'On British Empire' designed to equip teachers with the confidence to address such complex and often contentious historical subjects.
The resource prompts students to examine whether the British Empire served as a 'force for progress' or a 'system of exploitation and oppression.' It provides historical accounts from various perspectives, encouraging students to divide into teams to argue opposing viewpoints before switching to the other side. The ultimate goal is for students to form their own conclusions by distinguishing critical analysis from predetermined allegiance.
Bill Rammell, chief executive of Parallel Histories and a former Labour minister, stated that the initiative aims to help students grapple with historical contradictions to better understand contemporary disagreements. "The question we are asking is not whether the British Empire was good or bad," Rammell said. "The question is whether we trust students enough to let them decide for themselves."
The project arises amid concerns that some educational institutions approach sensitive historical topics in a biased manner, while others avoid them altogether. Parallel Histories has previously created similar resources addressing other controversial issues, including the Israel-Palestine conflict and figures like Margaret Thatcher.
The 'On British Empire' resource incorporates a wide range of viewpoints, from British politicians who advocated for imperial expansion as a moral imperative to Indian nationalists highlighting colonial economic impacts and Caribbean voices discussing slavery and its lasting effects on identity. One specific debate point presented is: 'Empire spread the infrastructure of the modern world versus British imperial growth was built through systemic exploitation.'
Materials accompanying the resource note that while Britain is credited with abolishing slavery and developing infrastructure like railways and ports that drove economic development, the Empire's growth was also underpinned by 'systemic exploitation.' The charity emphasizes that students learn history is 'constructed, contested and alive' not to promote a single viewpoint, but to foster understanding.
Parallel Histories argues that a 'single story' about the Empire creates fragility, whereas 'parallel stories create intellectual resilience.' The organization warns that avoiding such contested history risks leaving the next generation vulnerable to 'populist forces and algorithm-driven outrage.' The charity was co-founded in 2017 by history teacher Michael Davies, who passed away in 2024.