Institute of Design, Culture and the Arts
     

History

The history research group within the Institute of Design, Culture and the Arts is a long established centre of international research excellence at Teesside. This was confirmed at the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, where 50% of its research activity was held to be world-leading or internationally excellent in its originality, significance and rigour, and a further 30% internationally recognised.

Historical research at Teesside is focused on three key areas:

  • modern political history
  • regional and local history
  • cultural and intellectual history

Research in modern political history focuses on the following themes:

The ground-breaking Centre for Fascist, Anti-Fascist and Post-Fascist Studies examines the historical development of far right politics and culture since its inception in the early twentieth century. Professor Nigel Copsey and Dr Matthew Feldman will lead this new Centre, which builds upon their reputations as two of the leading UK experts on both historical and contemporary manifestations of fascism and (radical) anti-fascism.

Research into regional and local history takes place within the centre for regional and local historical research.

It includes the study of the history of the North East of England as well as comparative historical analysis between regions, both nationally and internationally. Projects in regional and local history have included:

  • the Reformation in North East England
  • nation and region in Bavaria
  • cultural policy in North East England

The centre publishes papers in North East England history, a series of peer reviewed papers on a wide range of topics in the history of North East England.

Teesside is also a member of the North East England History Institute (NEEHI). This Institute is a partnership involving Teesside and the Universities of Durham, Newcastle, Sunderland and Northumbria, and the Open University. Other partners include Beamish Open Air Museum and more than 30 regional institutions, many being local history societies. NEEHI also has more than a hundred members who have joined as individuals.

Research in cultural and intellectual history focuses on:

  • Ancient Greece and Platonic philosophy
  • the cultural experiences of English Christian clerics in the twentieth century
  • cultures of slavery and the African American Diaspora.

The History research group also runs a programme of regular history research seminars in which staff and visiting scholars present papers on current research projects.

For more information see individual profiles of current members of the history research group: