Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø

What is the focus of your research?

I am a historian of the Caribbean. Though I amÌýcurrently focused on the political history of the post-independenceÌýAnglophoneÌýCaribbean, I have also worked on other areas ofÌýthe region, including Cuba post-1959. MyÌýresearch - on subjects including the role of intellectuals in constructions ofÌýnational culture,Ìýthe BlackÌýPower movement and the rise and fall of theÌýCaribbean left, and the Westminster model and questions of governance and political reform - demand a comparative, regional and transnational approach.

What appealed to you about working for the Institute of the Americas?

SoÌýmany things! ItsÌýunrivalled hemispheric approach and the opportunity to really grow the Caribbean programme were major factors. GreatÌýcolleagues and students who all share aÌýpassion for the region. And a research andÌýteaching culture that encourages thinking acrossÌýdisciplinary and regional borders.ÌýIÌýloveÌýthat I can come down from myÌýoffice on any given night of the week andÌýattend an event on anything from theÌýelections in Argentina to indigenous movements inÌýCanada, the Stonewall riots, or the FrenchÌýCaribbean under the Vichy regime.ÌýBeing here allowsÌýyou toÌýconstantly refresh yourÌýthinking on your own subject and to stepÌýoutside of disciplinary and otherÌýsilos in ways that can spark off new andÌýunexpected ideas andÌýconnections.

Tell us about a project you are working on now

In terms ofÌýpublications, I amÌýcurrentlyÌýworking with my colleague Tony McCulloch on an edited volume on 1968 in the Americas,Ìýwhich arose from a conference we held here in 2018.ÌýIt's a good example of the kind of collaborations and cross-regionalÌýexchangeÌýprompted byÌýbeing here at the Institute. I'm also putting the finishing touches to aÌýsubstantive chapter on heads of state and constitutional crises in the post-independence Caribbean. This piece has arisen out of my work on theÌýWestminster model in the Caribbean. ItÌýexamines a number ofÌýepisodes in which the actions of the constitutional head of state - nominally a symbolic role - have had significant political consequences, inÌýparticularÌýthrough the use or misuse ofÌýprerogative powers. Given that in 9 out of the 12 independentÌýCommonwealth Caribbean states the constitutional head of state is the British monarch -Ìýrepresented in the person of the Governor General - an analysis ofÌýtheir roleÌýraises questionsÌýabout the persistence ofÌýcolonial structures andÌýinstitutions in theÌýpost-colonial state.Ìý

What do you find most interesting/enjoyable about your work?

I really enjoy teaching. Many of our students have not had the opportunity to study the Caribbean in any depth before they come here, so it's great to engage in debates with them on classic Caribbean texts such as C.L.R. James'ÌýThe Black JacobinsÌýor EricÌýWilliams'ÌýCapitalismÌýand SlaveryÌýfor the first time. It'sÌýalso veryÌýrewarding seeing students go on to developÌýtheirÌýdissertation projects and carry outÌýimpressiveÌýpieces of independent research. I also really enjoy convening our Caribbean seminarÌýseries. It's important that we communicate the research in our field to a wideÌýaudience, andÌýthis is one ofÌýthe critical rolesÌýthat the seminarÌýseries plays. We haveÌýbuilt up a loyalÌýaudience for the series over the years, and theyÌýalways keep theÌýspeakers onÌýtheir toes.Ìý

What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?

One would be establishing the MA in Caribbean and Latin American Studies at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø. In an ideal world, I wouldÌýlike to be able to offer an MA in Caribbean Studies, which isÌýsomething I have been thinking about and working on since I got myÌýfirst academic job back in 2005. AtÌýpresent, there are notÌýenough Caribbean-specificÌýmodules offered at MastersÌýlevel within the University of London to build up a full Caribbean degree programme, and inter-collegialÌýinitiativesÌýalways bump up against bureaucracy and otherÌýobstacles,Ìýbut with the recent appointment of aÌýnumber ofÌýCaribbeanists at LondonÌýuniversities,Ìýincluding at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²ÊÖÐÌØÍø, I'm hopeful we might getÌýthere one day.Ìý

What are your top tips for the new students who joined us in September?

Take advantage of all theÌýopportunitiesÌýbeing at the InstituteÌýand being in London can offer you. The pace of work can been pretty intense and it's easy to get boggedÌýdown in short-termÌýassessment deadlines, butÌýit'sÌýimportant toÌýtry to step back mentallyÌýevery so oftenÌýand take aÌýbreak from the strictlyÌýacademic part of doing a degree. And if inÌýdoubtÌýabout anything, ask. The academics andÌýadmin team are allÌýsupportive, and if we don't know the answers we will point you toÌýsomeone who does.Ìý

Can you tell us about your plans for the future?

AsÌýwith most academics, I have a number of things on the go and the challenge is not to feelÌýpanicked about when and how to get them all done. I haveÌýresearch leave coming up inÌýJanuary andÌýwillÌýuse that to carve out some writingÌýtime on my Black Power in the Caribbean project. I am also in the process of submitting a funding bid for aÌýlarge AHRC grant. And on myÌýreturn fromÌýresearchÌýleave I'll startÌýworking onÌýdeveloping a new second-year course on 'The Caribbean in the shadow of the United States' for our new BA History andÌýPolitics of the Americas degree.Ìý

Ìý

Ìý