Historians and campaigners explore the history of campaigning – and what lessons may be drawn for fighting modern-day causes. This book provides inspiration from some of the great British campaigns of the past - from the anti-slavery movement, to free-trade campaigners, to the suffragettes, to campaigns for homosexual equality.

Written by leading academics at the History & Policy Network and Friends of the Earth this book draws lessons for campaigners and historians alike.

History can't provide us with templates for modern-day campaigns but we can learn some lessons from it. As 19th-century Russian historian Vasily Klyuchevsky said "History teaches us nothing, but only punishes for not learning its lessons".

“We need to understand our past to make sense of our present. This book looks back at some of the campaigns that have changed society and draws out lessons about how to build effective campaigns now. Even more importantly these examples show that big changes, from the abolition of slavery to women getting the right to vote, are possible. So what do you want to change?”
— Alexandra Runswick