Hvad er dit forskningsfelt – kort beskrevet?

I am a historian of modern Britain and the British imperial world, specializing in the history of global decolonization and the legacies of colonialism. Specifically, my work explores the interface between British and colonial contexts, examining not only the historical imprint of British colonial ambitions the world over (especially the settler colonial world), but also the many ways in which the dynamics of overseas expansion have shaped the contours of British history ‘at home’. I am also interested in these same issues across a broader (comparative) European canvass.

Hvad er de forskningsmæssige udfordringer på dit felt?

The history of European overseas expansion and colonisation is heavily implicated in the contemporary ‘culture wars’, which means emotions generally run high and research findings can become vulnerable to politicization – from all ends of the political spectrum. This demands additional care in terms of selection of research topics, materials, and the communication of results. But it also of course makes the subject irresistibly relevant to many contemporary problems, agendas and social issues.

Hvorfor er netop dette forskningsområde så interessant?

For decades, British history has grappled with the prospect that Britain itself might ultimately be dissolved. The imminent ‘Break-up of Britain’ must surely count as one of the burning issues of our times, yet it has become so familiar that we tend to lose sight of the magnitude of what is at stake. My research is designed to shake this complacency and reframe the question in a whole new light. Writing contemporary British history in dialogue with the broader cross-currents of global decolonization invites us to rethink the frontiers of Britishness, and hence the scope of British history itself.