Histories, Cultures, Networks (HCN) Research Cluster

Description

Research in the Histories, Cultures, Networks (HCN) Research Cluster, focuses on the role of social protest and networked mobilisation in the early 19th-century transformation of British rural society, the changed relationship between humanity and technology effected in 1960s ‘swinging London’, and how trans-imperial networks of communication and contestation shaped dynamic ideas of humanity (and humanitarianism), race, and development through the 19th century.

Beyond the historical studies that have re-framed debates in each of these fields, joint research with the Geographies of Migration cluster has led to an emerging interest in the social and historical geographies of identity, race, and class within the colonial British diaspora and an emphasis on postcolonial identities in Britain and among expatriates. New work on the historical geographies of African migration and the transnational politics of exile and solidarity complements the AHRC- and ESRC-funded analyses of ‘provincial’ postcolonial white identities in Norwich and Peterborough, and members' publications on British transnational élites.

A strong strand of work relates to decolonising heritage co-produced with artists, African ‘source communities’ and partner institutions including African diaspora groups and African museums, universities and heritage organizations, such as Museums Detox, the network of people of colour working for museums and galleries. The AHRC funded Making African Connections project researched historic African collections held in Sussex and Kent Museums with the aim of furthering both conceptual and applied debates over ‘decolonizing’ public institutions. The cluster’s engagement with UK regional museums around decolonising their work, feeds into national policy fora including the Museums Association and the Museum Ethnographer’s Group.

Members of the cluster, like the migration group, share an interest in the use of visual methods and collaborate with photographers, galleries, and community groups to deliver new kinds of public engagement. For instance, liaison with the Brighton Pavilion Museum led to a publication on the trans-imperial networks mobilised by Indian soldiers who were hospitalised there during the First World War, and content published on SikhMuseum.com A series of AHRC Connected Communities projects included the films Alone Together: The Social Life of Benches (2015) and Workers (2018).

Work connecting Geographies of Migration with Histories, Cultures, Networks has involved collaboration with the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), the Migrants’ Rights Network, the Runnymede Trust, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Community University Engagement (CUE) East and West Norwich Partnership, the Food Ethics Council, and local government, business and community networks in Peterborough (Rogaly). Invited talks have been given for the Faith and Cohesion Network and the Husseini Islamic Centre, and collaboration with local sixth forms to conduct audition workshops for young people’s participation in theatre work has been associated with a project in the Peterborough Festival.

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No, this infrastructure does not provide funding.

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University affiliation(s)

University of Sussex
Brighton

Partner Infrastructures

Centre for Rights, Reparations, and Anti-Colonial Justice

The Centre for Rights, Reparations, and Anti-Colonial Justice is a new initiative formed of two long-standing Centres and areas of intellectual concern, scholarship, and doctoral supervision at t… read more about Centre for Rights, Reparations, and Anti-Colonial Justice

Brighton

Centre for World Environmental History (CWEH)

The Centre for World Environmental History (CWEH) was launched in May 2002 under the aegis of the School of African and Asian Studies at the University of Sussex. It was funded for an initial three ye… read more about Centre for World Environmental History (CWEH)

Brighton

Museum Ethnographers Group (MEG)

Museum Ethnographers Group are a UK-based, but international collective, whose members include: Museum professionals, academics, researchers & students; artists, activists & enthusiasts.… read more about Museum Ethnographers Group (MEG)

London

Runnymede Trust

For more than 50 years, the Runnymede Trust has worked tirelessly to build a Britain in which we all belong. Proudly independent, it speaks truth to power on race and racism without fear or favour. It… read more about Runnymede Trust