Joseph Ledford is an Assistant Professor of Security Studies and Director of Research at the Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas at Austin. He is also a Griffin Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
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Available November 1, 2026
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History’s Dead-Hand Grip: Politics, Statecraft, and “Lessons” of the Past
Edited by Joseph Ledford and Daniel J. Sargent
The past will never let us go. Taking as inspiration the work of legendary historian Ernest R. May, a pioneer in the field of Applied History, this book illustrates how historical narratives, analogies, and axioms can, and frequently do, shape policymaking.
History’s Dead-Hand Grip, edited by Joseph Ledford and Daniel J. Sargent, builds in part on May’s seminal work “Lessons” of the Past. That book lays the foundation for this one’s explorations: How have policymakers in diverse countries around the world used and misused history?
Across eight incisive chapters spanning Asia, the Middle East, and North and South America, next-generation scholars examine how and why the past influences the ways that states define their interests, interpret threats, and pursue action.
