Anna Bernard

Dr. Anna Bernard is a Senior Lecturer in Comparative Literature and English at King’s College London, part of the Faculty of Arts & Humanities. She holds a BA from UC Berkeley and a PhD from the University of Cambridge. Her research focuses on postcolonial and world literature, decolonization, and solidarity movements, particularly Palestinian activism and international solidarity campaigns. Bernard has held significant fellowships and grants, including the Leverhulme Research Fellowship and an AHRC Research Network Grant. Her recent works include Decolonizing Comparative Literature (2023) and Decolonizing Literature (2023), which explore decolonial methodologies in academia and literature. She currently researches solidarity movements in Nicaragua, South Africa, and Palestine (1975–1990), emphasizing archival activism and transnational cultural networks. Bernard supervises PhD students in anti-colonial literature and cultural activism, and her teaching spans postcolonial theory and solidarity movements in literature.

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts (UC Berkeley)
• Doctor of Philosophy (University of Cambridge)

Research Interests:

• Postcolonial and world literature
• Decolonization and cultural activism
• Palestinian national movement
• Solidarity movements and internationalism
• Literature and human rights

Recent Articles: Bernard’s work critiques humanitarian frameworks and emphasizes solidarity-based political action. Her 2023 articles Decolonizing Comparative Literature and Decolonizing Literature challenge Eurocentric academic paradigms. Earlier works include analyses of Palestinian solidarity in 1980s literature and critiques of empathy-driven humanitarianism.

Awards:

• Leverhulme Research Fellowship (2016–17)
• AHRC Research Network Grant (2013–16)
• University of York Anniversary Lectureship (2010–11)

Grants and Projects: Bernard’s research includes collaborations with Algerian universities and involvement in the International Solidarity Action Research Network (ISARN). She organizes events on solidarity, such as Building Usable Pasts and Decolonizing Higher Education.

Lab/Team: Bernard contributes to King’s Critical Economic and Political Thought research group, which examines politics and economics through cultural lenses.