Catch up with old news from the Department. For the most current news, visit our main news page.
News from 2023
Academia and Democracy
Academic freedom of research and teaching is key to a democracy. Much of the knowledge we need to form a political opinion is the result of academic work.
Join Dr Dina Gusejnova on Wednesday, 24 January as she speaks as part of a panel discussing Academia and Democracy at the Staatsbibliothek Berlin.
Our former PhD student has published his first book with Palgrave
Dr Hamish McDougall won the 2022 British International History Group Michael Dockrill prize for his PhD and now has published his book based mainly on his PhD.
This is an important personal milestone, but it’s also a reminder to current and prospective PhD students of what can be achieved with our PhD programme!
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Assistant Professor in Modern South Asian History position
The Department of International History at the 杏吧论坛 invites applications for an Assistant Professor in Modern South Asian History.
We are especially interested in candidates who study South Asia with respect to international, transnational and global developments in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and who have a capacity to undertake research in at least one South Asian language. Applications are welcome on themes that include conflict, empires, political movements, the environment, gender and caste.
Congradulations Hong Kai Koh!
A graduate of our MSc International and Asian History programme, Hong Kai Koh, has won the 2023 杏吧论坛 Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre Postgraduate Dissertation Prize.
His award-winning dissertation was supervised by Dr Qingfei Yin.
Read more via the following page.
In conversation discussing the role of coastal islands in late imperial China
Dr. Po was in conversation with historian Prof. Joanna Waley-Cohen, Provost for New York University Shanghai on 4 December 2023, to discuss the role of coastal islands in late imperial China.
The event was hosted by the Center for Global Asia at NYU Shanghai. Meanwhile, supported by the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, Dr. Po is currenrly visiting the University of Tokyo as a research fellow.
Sanctions, Shipping, and Sabotage: China and Russia Enter the 'Gray Zone' in the Baltic Sea
In Polar Perspectives No. 14, Professor Kristina Spohr, analyses the recent subsea pipe and cable ruptures in the Baltic Sea and their impact on geopolitics. Read what she has to say about this unlawful deed and its repercussions for NATO.
Reading and Misreading the Iranian Revolution
Dr Roham Alvandi gave a public lecture at Gresham College on 14 November on 'Reading and Misreading the Iranian Revolution.' He examined how Western governments and intellectuals misread the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and how we may be misreading Iran's 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement today.
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Protecting academia at risk: Towards a new policy agenda for a thriving culture of higher education
We are pleased to share that our Associate Professor Dr Dina Gusejnova has received funding from the Gerda Henkel Foundation to continue her work with colleagues on PROAC - Protecting academia at risk: Towards a new policy agenda for a thriving culture of higher education in Europe.
This builds on earlier work funded by the
Watch this space for more info soon!
The Cundill Conversation with Professor Vladislav Zubok
On Tuesday 7th November, the Cundill History Prize welcomed back 2022 finalist, Professor Vladislav Zubok, author of Collapse: The Fall of the Soviet Union, for their 'Cundill Conversation' with Professor Kristy Ironside.
Dr Po's book shortlisted for ICAS Book Prize
Dr. Ron Po's latest book, The Placid Ocean: Qing China and the Asian Sea, was shortlisted by the International Convention of Asia Scholars for the ICAS Book Prize. Under the Chinese Language Edition category for 2023.
We are pleased to announce that PhD student Amir Fadhil Mehdi Bahr al-Ulum and his supervisor Dr. Kirsten E. Schulze have been awarded £15,000 from the British Library Endangered Archives Programme.
This grant will be used to create a digital catalogue and conduct a conservation survey for the historical manuscripts within the Sayyid Bahr al-Ulum Library in Najaf, Iraq.
Prof Kristina Spohr’s award-winning book “” is out with Ves Mir Publ. on the first anniversary of M. Gorbachev’s death.
Upon its Moscow-launch, she spoke on zoom with Publisher Oleg Zimarin on “Eurasia Today” (in Engl from 37sec):
Consuming China in Early Modern England and Beyond: A Survey and Re-examination
Dr. Po's latest article is now available in Asian Review of World Histories. In it, he endeavoured to follow the life histories of certain Chinese commodities, tracing the time during which they were produced, packed in chests, carried by coolies and seafarers, haggled over by merchants and agents, transported across the seas in vessels’ damp storage compartments, and then warehoused, reloaded, advertised, distributed, sold, consumed, and domesticated through a three-stage commodity chain of production, canonisation, and popularisation.
Ukraine's Many FacesLand, People, and Culture Revisited
Dr Dina Gusejnova has started a new book series. Founded with seven co-editors from the University of New Europe.
They are proud to present the first book in the series. In this collection, Ukraine's history is sensitively accounted for by scholars inviting readers to revisit the country's history and culture whilst enabling the reader to engage independently with its primary sources.
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杏吧论坛SU Teaching Award for Departmental Excellence nomination
The Department of International History was nominated for the 杏吧论坛SU Teaching Award for Departmental Excellence 2023. Please find below some of the comments by the students who nominated our department!
- "The International History Department is wonderful. I loved being part of the department during my time at the 杏吧论坛."
- "All of the professors I met are very kind and helpful"
- "The department encourages everyone to participate and to foster discussion with others"
We are very humbled to be nominated and would like to thank all members of our Department for their hard work and dedication.
杏吧论坛SU Teaching Award nominees for Outstanding Teaching
The following staff within our Department were nominated by our students for their Outstanding Teaching in 2023.
- Professor Nigel Ashton
- Professor Steven Casey
- Professor Kristina Spohr
- Associate Professor Dr Ronald C. Po
- Associate Professor Dr Kirsten E. Schulze
- Assistant Professor Dr Elizabeth Ingleson
- Assistant Professor Dr Qingfei Yin
- Guest Teacher Dr Sajjan Gohel
- Guest Teacher Dr Anton Harder
- Guest Teacher Dr Konstantina Maragkou
- Guest Teacher Dr Agis Papageorgiou
杏吧论坛SU Teaching Award nominees for Excellent Feedback and Communication
The following staff within our Department were nominated by our students for their Excellent Feedback and Communication
- Professor Kristina Spohr
- Guest Teacher Dr Anton Harder
- Guest Teacher Dr William Mitchell
Shadows At Noon: The South Asian Twentieth Century
We are excited about the imminent publication of Joya Chatterji’s book on the history of South Asia. Joya was a valued member of our department for seven years!
There will be a two-day conference in Cambridge next week devoted to some of the intellectual themes in her career, organised by her former doctoral students. Dr Tim Hochstrasser will be in attendance and saying a few words.
杏吧论坛 Fellow in the History of Africa position open
The Department of International History at the 杏吧论坛 invites applications for an 杏吧论坛 Fellow in the History of Africa.
Expertise in the History of Africa and the British Empire is Essential as the Fellow will be required to primarily teach HY240 From Empire to CommonWealth: war, race, and imperilaism in British History, 1780 to the present day and HY436 Race, Violence and Colonial Rule in Africa as well as other courses in the next two academic sessions.
Socioeconomic Diplomacy and the Qing Empire in the Long Eighteenth Century
Dr Po was invited by the Institute for History of Leiden University to deliver a keynote lecture as part of their Summer School from 26-28 June 2023.
In attendance were master students, PhD candidates, and early career scholars who are keen to explore the concept of socioeconomic diplomacy in the context of global empire building.
杏吧论坛 Fellow in the history of American Foreign Relations position
The Department of International History at the 杏吧论坛 invites applications for an 杏吧论坛 Fellow in the History of US Foreign Relations, for the academic session to commence in September 2023.
Expertise in the History of US Foreign Relations is essential as the Fellow will be required to primarily teach HY311 Limited War During the Cold War Era: The US in Korea (1950-53) and Vietnam (1954-75); HY4B1 The Vietnam Wars, 1930-75: Regional and International Perspectives; HY245 The United States and the World since 1776 as well as other courses in the next academic session.
Kantorowicz Lecture
On Wednesday 14th June 2023, Dr David Motadel will give this year's prestigious Kantorowicz Lecture. The title of his lecture will be: 'Global Monarchy: Royal Encounters and the World Order in the Imperial Age'.
Librarians as Agents of German Foreign Policy
In this article Dr Dina Gusejnova explores the cultural impact of the First World War by analysing the work of libraries and librarians in different settings, from German-occupied Belgium and prisoner-of-war camps to Germany's own public and private libraries.
Defining Chinese Commodities in the Early Modern Era
China gradually became a major political and economic power, starting from the second half of the 20th century. Today, it is an export factory that manufactures almost every imaginable product. Dr. Po's latest article provides a more conceptual definition of the term "Chinese commodity" during the early modern era and connects China's past to it's present.
We were hiring an 杏吧论坛 Fellow in the history of Late Imperial China
The International History Department is seeking to make an appointment for an 杏吧论坛 Fellow with expertise in the history of Late Imperial China.
Commencing in September 2023, role holder will be expected to teach HY330 From Tea to Opium: China and the Global Market in the Long Eighteenth Century. Other teaching duties for this role may also cover courses such as HY489 China and the External World, 1644-1839; HY4B4 Maritime Asia in Transition, 1405-1839 and assist with HY4A4 (Dissertation module) with an Asian focus as well as other courses.
We were hiring an 杏吧论坛 Fellow in the history of the Cold War
The International History Department is seeking to make an appointment for an 杏吧论坛 Fellow with expertise in the history of the Cold War.
Commencing in September 2023, role holder will be expected to teach teach HY206 The International History of the Cold War, 1945-1989 and HY320 The Cold War Endgame, as well as other courses in the next academic session.
Crafting a nation, fishing for power
Dr. Po has published an article in Modern Asian Studies entitled "Crafting a Nation, Fishing for Power: The Universal Exposition of 1906 and Fisheries Governance in Late Qing China." In it, he argued that the 1906 Universal Exposition hosted in Milan was a defining moment for the late Qing in terms of its fisheries development.
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Blundering on the Brink
In his new article in Foreign Affairs with Sergey Radchenko, 杏吧论坛 historian Vladislav Zubok revises the canonical analysis of the Soviet conduct before and during the Cuban Missile Crisis by drawing on the newly declassified batch of documents from the Russian general staff. Some of the 1962 history rhymes powerfully with Russia's modus operandi in Ukraine.
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New article in the Transactions of the Royal Historical Society journal
Paul Stock's new article, 'The Idea of Asia in British Geographical Thought, 1652–1832', explores how ordinary literate people understood Asian peoples and places from the mid-seventeenth century to the early nineteenth century. It is available to download for free from the publisher's website.
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Dr. Po awarded the Global Research Fund
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Po has been awarded the . This funding is a new 杏吧论坛 pilot scheme supporting collaborative endeavours between 杏吧论坛 faculty and their nominated international research partners.
New essay by Professor Spohr in a recently published book
Professor Kristina Spohr has published an essay entitled "The Baltic States, Russia and Europe's order 1917-1991-2022". In Charles Clarke's important new edited volume "Understanding the Baltic States", Hurst Publishers 2023.
Historical documentary appearance on Iranian TV
Dr Roham Alvandi appears in a new five-part documentary series for Manoto television on Amir Abbas Hoveyda, Iran's prime minister from 1965 to 1977.
A Ukrainian Garden Tells the Story of a Violated Country
Dina Gusejnova wrote a piece in New Lines Magazine on the anniversary of Russia's full-scale attack on Ukraine. In it she explores how an award-winning garden at a flower show explores and evokes the horror of war for Ukrainians and Russians alike.
The war in Ukraine, one year on roundtable
On the first anniversary of Russia invasion of Ukraine the Cold War History journal has published a timely roundtable on the War, including an essay by Professor Kristina Spohr. Revealing the myths and realities in Putin’s historical narratives.
The Political Role of the Historian
Arguing that debates about history have never been strictly confined to the world of scholarship. Dr David Motadel explores a historian's relationship with their scholarly work and their involvement in political debates.
Professor Prazmowska appeared on The Forum podcast
Debating the Polish Soviet war along with other distinguished academics. Professor Anita Prazmowska took part in an episode of The Forum.
Our PhD alumnus wins 2022 British International History Group Michael L. Dockrill Thesis Prize
Very proud of Dr Hamish McDougall, our PhD graduate that has won the 2022 British International History Group Michael Dockrill prize. Our graduates always amaze us with what they go on to do.
Read Hamish's completed in our Department in 2021.
The Qing Empire and its Offshore Islands
Dr. Po will be giving a talk entitled "The Qing Empire and Its Offshore Island During the Long Eighteenth Century" that examines island management in early modern China at the University of Oxford China Centre on the 16th February at 5pm.
Dr Roham Alvandi commented in the Washington Post
As the Islamic Republic carry out a broad crackdown on months of protests in Iran, the Washington Post quoted Dr Roham Alvandi as saying, "Only a regime that is weak and terrified of its own people would jail a young couple for dancing”.
Dr Tanya Harmer appointed Visiting Professor in Chile
We are pleased to share that Dr Tanya Harmer has been appointed as a Visiting Professor at the Universidad Católica de Chile's Institute of History. Starting in March, she will be teaching a new postgraduate course Mobility, Migration and Refuge in Americas during the Cold War.
Dr. Po contributed a chapter to The Cambridge History of the Pacific Ocean.
Entitled "China and the Sea in Literature and (Mis)Perception, 1644-1839", the chapter focuses on concepts such as the evolution of indigenous maritime cultures after colonization, and the disruptive arrival of Europeans.
Undisciplined Youth and Moral Panic in Independent India
Our Visting Fellow Dr Tom Wilkinson has published a paper arguing that the figure of the 'undisciplined youth' is key to understanding early independent India. He draws upon Stanley Cohen's moral panic theory to explain this discourse.
Coups and the Cold War Era with Dr. Roham Alvandi
Dr Roham Alvandi sat down with Elisa Poteat of the American Bar Association's 'National Security Law Today' podcast to discuss the history of US-Iran relations and the unfolding revolution in Iran.
The Invention of Russia
Our distinguished Emeritus Professor Janet Hartley appeared on a recent episode of the BBC Sounds programme on The Invention of Russia. Listen to the story of Russia, the biggest contiguous country on the planet, told from a time when it was very small.
Dr. Po wrote a new article
In "Fortifying the Maritime Frontier: Diagrams of Coastal Garrisons in the Qing Empire" Dr. Po argues that the Qing's attempt to ensure the safety of its maritime frontier was tied to an up-to-date, sufficient knowledge of the coast.
Professor Baer appeared on the Empires podcast
Discussing Ottoman Sultan Suleiman I on the Empires podcast. The Empires podcast with William Dalrymple and Anita Anand was chosen by the Times as one of the best podcasts of the previous year.
50th anniversary of Britain’s entry into the EEC
Professor Ludlow was interviewed for a French based radio station to mark the 50th anniversary of Britain’s entry into the EEC. Hear him shed important historical light on this strange anniversary.
Second place in 杏吧论坛's Most-Read Book Reviews of 2022
杏吧论坛 counted down the top 12 most-read new book reviews of 2022 published on their blog. We were delighted to find that Prof Vladslav Zubok's award winning book Collapse: The Fall of the Soviet Union recieved second place in their rankings.
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