The Most Effective Way to Destroy a People: Erase Their History

​By Martin Foskett.

​History is the backbone of identity. The thread stitches together a people's fabric, values, and sense of place in the world. To sever that thread—to rewrite, obscure, or obliterate a people's History—strips them of self-awareness, coherence, and power. George Orwell understood this well when he wrote 1984.

​We tend to think of destruction in physical terms—wars, economic ruin, disease. But the erasure of History is a quieter, more insidious devastation. It is a war waged on memory, an attack on the foundation of meaning. When people lose their historical consciousness, they become untethered, vulnerable to manipulation, and easy prey for ideological subjugation. And disturbingly, this is not just a hypothetical concern—it is happening in real-time, in classrooms, media, and public discourse.

The Purpose of Historical Erasure

There is a reason why totalitarian regimes throughout History have sought to control historical narratives. The Soviet Union's revisionist tendencies were legendary—Stalin famously had former allies airbrushed out of official photographs when they fell out of favour. Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution sought to erase thousands of years of Chinese History in favour of a new socialist mythology. The Khmer Rouge in Cambodia attempted to reset History to "Year Zero," obliterating everything that came before.​

Why? Because History provides context. It tells us who we are, where we've been, and—most importantly—where we might be going. If a ruling class or ideological movement wants to control the trajectory of a people, it must first control the past.

In democratic societies, historical erasure tends to be more subtle but no less dangerous. The rewriting of textbooks, the demonisation of specific historical figures while deifying others, and the erasure of inconvenient truths from the record all serve the same purpose: to shape public consciousness in a way that serves the interests of those in power.

The Modern Assault on History

Today, we see a war in History fought on multiple fronts. Statues are torn down, school curricula are restructured, and previously celebrated figures are posthumously condemned. The past is judged not by the context of its time but by the moral sensibilities of the present, a phenomenon historian Herbert Butterfield warned about when he coined the term "presentism."

There is a growing tendency to reduce very complex historical figures to mere one-dimensional villains. Take, for example, the Founding Fathers of the United States. They were once highly revered for their revolutionary ideas and a commitment to self-governance, but now, these are often presented solely in the context of their moral failings, particularly regarding slavery.

This is not an excuse for their flaws, but ignoring their contributions is an exercise in intellectual dishonesty.

The same pattern repeats worldwide: Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi, and countless others are judged solely by their worst moments, as though human greatness and imperfection cannot coexist.

Perhaps even more dangerous than the erasure of History is its outright fabrication. There is a growing trend to impose ideological narratives onto the past, distorting events to fit modern political agendas. Some historical events are exaggerated beyond recognition, while others are conveniently forgotten. This is not History—it is propaganda.

The Consequences of a Forgotten Past

When people lose their understanding of their History, they lose their ability to think critically about the present. Demagogues, utopian promises, and simplistic narratives can easily sway a society lacking historical consciousness. It falls into cyclical patterns, repeating the same mistakes.

This is particularly dangerous within an established democratic system, where an informed citizenry is essential. People who do not understand the History of their freedoms, the sacrifices made to secure them, or the forces that threaten them will not know how to defend them. As the adage goes, "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Ultimately, historical erasure can often create a fertile breeding ground for resentment.

When people feel that their History is being manipulated or erased, they often respond with reactionary movements. This can lead to cultural fragmentation, polarisation, and, in extreme cases, violence. A society at war with its past is at war with itself.

Restoring Historical Integrity

So, what is the solution? How do we defend History from those who seek to obliterate or distort it?

Teach History Honestly – This means presenting historical figures and events in their full complexity, without ideological spin. People are not saints or demons, but human beings shaped by the times in which they lived.
Encourage Critical Thinking – Rather than forcing a single narrative onto its people, the education system should be equipping its students with all the tools they need to analyse their History for themselves. This involves reading primary sources, understanding the historical context, and critically questioning prevailing assumptions.
Preserve Cultural Heritage – From statues and monuments to historical sites, they all serve as tangible connections to the past. Tearing them down does not change History; it only makes forgetting easier. Instead of erasing figures from History, we should engage in meaningful discussion about their legacies.
Resist Historical Censorship – Any attempt to suppress uncomfortable aspects of History, whether through book bans, restricted speech, or selective teaching, should be challenged. A free society cannot function without a truthful reckoning of its past.

A people without History are people without direction. The past is not a burden to be discarded but a guidepost to be studied. It anchors us in time, provides us with lessons, and grants us our identity. Orwell was right: the destruction of History is the destruction of people. If we wish to preserve civilisation, we must first maintain the truth of where we have been.

Because once a society forgets its past, it is only a matter of time before it forgets itself.

#HistoryMatters #CulturalIdentity #TruthOverIdeology #LessonsFromThePast