Centre For The Study Of Modern And Contemporary History

In this talk, Alex Paulin-Booth (Université Libre de Bruxelles) discusses notions of time in political activitism through a range of late 19th century French futurist novels, all of which reflect on the utopias (and dystopias) of the French left in this period. The talk is followed by a comment by Emile Chabal (Edinburgh). This is a recording of an event hosted by the CSMCH in January 2019.

In this talk, Michael Goebel (Graduate Institute, Geneva) explores the prevalence of urban ethnic segregation in a range of port cities outside Europe in the period c.1870-c.1920. Amongst other things, he argues for a more complex and nuanced understanding of the spatial distribution of ethnic minorities in these cities. The talk is followed by a comment by Richard Rodger (Edinburgh). This is a recording of an event hosted by the CSMCH in November 2018.

In this talk, the historian Vanessa Ogle (King's College London) explores the relationship between decolonisation and the emergence of offshore tax havens. Vanessa's talk is followed by a short comment by the economic historian Martin Chick (Edinburgh). This is a recording of an event hosted by the CSMCH in November 2018.

In this talk, the legal scholar Davina Cooper (King's College London) discusses the conceptual space of gender in contemporary Britain and the possibilities for a more utopian imagining of gender in the future. Davina's talk is followed by a short comment by the political theorist Mathias Thaler (Edinburgh). This is a recording of an event hosted by the CSMCH in October 2018.

Emily Brownell (Edinburgh) explores the use of building materials and the transient character of urban spaces in postcolonial Tanzania. Emily's talk is followed by a short comment by Isabel Pike (Wisconsin-Madison). This is a recording of an event hosted by the CSMCH in October 2018.

The acclaimed political theorist and commentator, Corey Robin (City University of New York), gave a lecture to the CSMCH in September 2018. His talk focused on the past and future of conservatism. It was followed by a short comment by Jamie Allinson (Edinburgh). This is a recording of the event.

The CSMCH hosted the launch event for Felix Boecking's new book 'No Great Wall: Trade, Tariffs, and Nationalism in Republican China, 1927–1945' on 4 April 2018. This podcast includes an introduction to the book by Felix Boecking, and a short comment by the Chinese historian and radio broadcaster, Rana Mitter.

Peter Jackson (Glasgow) explores Franco-British relations after World War One. He argues, amongst other things, that stereotypes and preconceived notions of how the way each country 'behaved' had a profound impact on foreign policy. This is a recording of a talk given at the Centre for the Study of Modern and Contemporary History at the University of Edinburgh on 30 January 2018.

Jake Blanc (Edinburgh) discusses his work on the protests surrounding the Itaipu Dam in Brazil in the 1980s. He explores both the motivations of the protesters and the response to the protests by the military regime. Includes a comment by Cassia Roth (Edinburgh).

CSMCH director Emile Chabal sat down with guest speaker Lorena de Vita (Utrecht) to find out more about her fascinating work on the postwar relationship between the two Germanys and Israel. Lorena gave a talk on the subject later that evening; a report is available on the CSMCH blog.

In this talk, Malte Rolf (Universität Bamberg) explores the range of critical attitudes that existed towards 'modernity' and urban development in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in the 1970s.

Richard Whatmore, Professor of Intellectual History at the University of St Andrews, takes us back to Adam Smith and David Hume - and asks whether democratic politics has always been based on deceit.

Steve Fuller, August Comte Chair in Social Epistemology at the University of Warwick, brings us right up to date with an original take on the meaning of 'post-truth'.

Christina Boswell, Professor of Politics at the University of Edinburgh, gives her thoughts on the fraught relationship between truth and democracy based on her work with British and European public servants.