Closely connected to the idea of historical provincialism is yet another interesting concept, crafted by American sociologist C. Wright Mills. He wrote a book titled "The Sociological imagination," in which he closely sdudies the process of linking one's individual experience to historical change and institutional contradiction.
Here is a beautiful quote from his book: "Seldom aware of the intricate connection between the patterns of their own lives and the course of world history, ordinary men do not usually know what this connection means for the kinds of men they are becoming and for the kinds of history-making in which they might take part. They do not possess the quality of mind essential to grasp the interplay of man and society, of biography and history, of self and world. They cannot cope with their personal troubles in such ways as to control the structural transformations that usually lie behind them."
One example Mills gives, is of an unemployed man who is so focused on his personal tragedy, and even guilt at being incapable of finding a job, that seldom realizes the economic factors that have led to his present condition. A woman, raising her children alone during a state of war, will not be able to look beyond the hardship of her day-to-day struggles for survival.
Developing a "sociological imagination" will enable the individual to develop an ability to participate in social life and even create social change, by analyzing his individual condition within a broader perspective of historical or social reality. However, this is not an easy task. It requires "a quality of mind" which is trained and skilled at filtering loads of information in a contemporary society, and formulating meaningful connections between the historical reality and the individual experience.
This sense of possession and ownership on the personal within a historical context acts in both directions: on one side, it will eliminate the feeling of being trapped by an alienating social reality (a reality thight might be in contrast with the moral values or sensitivity of the individual); and on the other hand, it will equip the individual with an enpowering awareness of his own ability to participate, influence and create the present state of social reality.
The intersection of biography and history within a society creates a strong sense of self-consciousness, allowing the individual to link personal troubles to social issues, and not only understand them better, but by finding individual solutions, to also find answers to broader social issues. A truly empowering perspective, linking self to society and history in an inseparable wholistic experience of reality...