A brief digression today to talk about an exhibition I went to last weekend at the British Library – Law, Liberty, Legacy exploring Magna Carta, which is on display until September 1st this year – see http://www.bl.uk/events/magna-carta–law-liberty-legacy

Just to describe it first, the exhibits begin with the social and legal situation in England previously, go on to record the events that took place in 1215 and their immediate aftermath, and finally trace many of the ways in which Magna Carta has inspired and steered social action right through to the present day.

As you might expect, the items on show are almost entirely pieces of literature, from legal decisions through activist pamphlets to satire and celebration. I had no idea that so many books had survived from the 13th and 14th century, and to see them in one place was arresting in itself. This does mean, however, that unlike the themed displays in the British Museum there is very little by way of physical artefact to engage with – the exhibition is definitely one which you need to grapple with on an intellectual and imaginative level.

I found the reception history of Magna Carta fascinating. It has been said that the document has been far more influential and memorable as a source of inspiration for social justice, than as a law code or constitutional document. After all, most of it deals with medieval and feudal concerns and issues. These were left behind in this country long ago, and are often quite irrelevant elsewhere. Only three of the original stipulations are still part of English law, and at least one of these, to do with the special role of the church of England, may not survive much longer. Here in England we have no problem discarding previous ideas and replacing them with new ones!

The fragments which have most consistently served as a rallying cry relate to justice – a person is entitled to a fair trial involving their peers, the rulers of the land are not above the law, and the state should not use arrest simply as a means of political coercion. These themes have echoed over and over again since 1215, and are still absolutely central to debate in this and other countries. Here in the UK, this is at the heart of contemporary questions relating to state surveillance and responses to suspected terrorists – how does a nation balance personal liberty and national protection?

I found it fascinating to see how far these principles have spread over the years, and how often they have been used to challenge the actions of various UK governments through the years. From individual radical pamphlet writers facing incarceration on charges of treason, to former colonies seeking independence, to today’s activists demanding transparency in government, over and over again the clauses are invoked. And, of course, it has also been invoked by numerous out-and-out villains seeking to deflect official interest away from their actions!

One of the most poignant displays was in relation to the US Declaration of Independence. Many of the original legislative documents of the individual states were already built around principles of a fair trial and the like. So it is no surprise to see Thomas Jefferson and others appealing to Magna Carta as a source of inspiration. But one item on display is Jefferson’s original hand-written draft of the Declaration, on which he neatly underlined those clauses which he had wanted, but which were omitted from the final declaration. One of these related to racial equality, and one has to wonder how different American history might have been if Jefferson and others had succeeded in building that in to the American Constitution right from the start.

So this is an important exhibition to be held, and judging by the crowds present at the weekend it is a popular one. It is well worth seeing, whether you approach it from a historical interest viewpoint or one of social justice. If you are in the London area sometime before September 1st, I recommend you take the opportunity to see it.