Alan Milward

Alan Steele Milward, FBA (19 January 1935 – 28 September 2010) was a British economic historian specialising in Western Europe and the United Kingdom in the 20th century.

He derived that reputation not from the writing of popular histories or media appearances but from his abilities as a linguist, economic historian, archival researcher, historical narrator and political scientist.

He made an essential contribution to the understanding of modern European history and integration: the elements that went to shape contemporary Europe.

[6] He gained a reputation for his ability to articulate and sustain his theses, which differed considerably from the received wisdom, and to refute arguments against his position.

An example was his minimalist contention that the Marshall Plan had been less crucial than often supposed in stimulating postwar European reconstruction or persuading former antagonists to work together.