Dr Patrick Soulsby

Research Overview

My primary interest is in post-war memory cultures in France and Britain with a particular focus on the role of Holocaust and colonial memory cultures within anti-racist movements. I am interested in how such memory cultures develop, are articulated and infused into the rhetoric and mental landscapes of social movements like anti-racism. Researching French and British anti-racist/anti-fascist organisations - such as the LICRA, MRAP and CARF - and publications such as the LICRA's 'Le Droit de Vivre' and Searchlight magazine contributes to a deeper understanding of how historical memory cultures were used to challenge contemporary racism and conventional national narratives of the past. More broadly, I am interested in the history of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Europe and the powerful role of history and memory in shaping national political cultures.
I would be happy to supervise any students who wish to write their dissertations on European anti-racist/anti-fascist movements, memory cultures and any aspect of post-war political culture in France or Britain.