Classics and Public Policy

This book is the first to connect Classics with Public Policy, opening up discussion of the study and application of Classics in, and for, policy communities across the United Kingdom. It confronts and dismantles existing dominant narratives that classicists do not 'do' policy and shows that, like any other skill, policy engagement can be taught. It provides examples from UK research and policy contexts and makes suggestions for how subject associations, learned societies and universities can embed the pedagogy of policy engagement into their courses. Contributions range from academic classicists to a Former Secretary of State to a current junior civil servant, and each reflects on their routes into policy and recommends ways for colleagues to begin, or extend, their policy influence. At a time when the Arts and Humanities are under increasing financial pressures, this book provides much-needed case studies of personal and professional experiences which highlight the 'value' of classicists' research, evidence for informing policy priorities and the 'relevance' of Classics for employability and career success in UK government, parliament and beyond. This volume is of interest to anyone studying or working in the fields of Classics and public policy, particularly in the UK.

Arlene Holmes-Henderson MBE is a Professor of Classics Education and Public Policy at Durham University and founder-director of the Durham Centre for Classics Education Research and EngagementS (CERES). In 2026, she was awarded the Classical Association Prize in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the promotion of Classics in the UK, including her pioneering work to better connect Classics and Public Policy.

Foreword - Peter Swallow MP; Part One; 1. Classics and Cyber Security: How Homer and Hesiod can teach us more about cyber security than you might have thought - Genevieve Liveley; 2. Classics and educational policy - Arlene Holmes-Henderson; 3. Classics and Relationships and Sexuality Education: Sex & History in Wales - Kate Fisher and Rebecca Langlands; 4. Classic collaboration across interdisciplinary fields and policy landscapes - Katharine Earnshaw; 5. Ancient History for today's International Policy, Culture and Heritage - Elena Isayev; 6. The Classics All-Party Parliamentary Group: a story of rebirth - Gráinne Cassidy, Arlene Holmes-Henderson and Yuki Tsujino; 7. From Classics to campaigns: how a historical degree opened my eyes to modern politics - Kirsty Harrod; Part Two; 8. Classics in the European Union: A wake-up call - Julius Graack; 9. Classics in the Scottish Government - Yuki Tsujino; 10. From fieldwork to foreign policy: why diplomacy needs archaeologists - Rachel Heatherly; 11. A Classicist Abroad: Antiquity and Diplomacy - Sir John Jenkins KCMG LVO; 12. Classics and Western Diplomacy - Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles KCMG LVO; 13. Greek, Public Service and Diplomacy: Beyond 'Thucydides' Trap' - John Kittmer; 14. Parsing the world: Classics and foreign service - John Raine CMG OBE; 15. A classicist in office: antiquity and politics - Sir Michael Fallon KCB; 16. Classics at the Department for Education - Andrew McCully CB OBE; 17. A funny thing happened on the way to Whitehall: Classics and the road to becoming a policy official in UK government - Rushabh Haria; 18. Classics: An Anchor for Life in Politics - Charlotte Leslie; 19. The Civil Service Classics Network: what next for Classics and public policy? - Yuki Tsujino.