Chris Parkes

Chris Parkes is a Senior Lecturer in History Education at King’s College London’s Department of History, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts & Humanities. He holds a Ph.D. in International History from the London School of Economics (2016). His research focuses on 20th-century American politics, diplomacy, and society, particularly the role of sexuality in political events. He previously taught at LSE’s International History Department and King’s English Language Centre, and was a fellow of the LSE100 interdisciplinary program (2013–2016).

Education:

• Ph.D. in International History, London School of Economics (2016), thesis: “The Welles of Loneliness: Sexuality, Power, Politics, and Scandal in the Life of Sumner Welles”

Research Interests:

• American History
• The History of Sexuality
• Diplomatic History
• Queer Studies
• 20th-Century Political Dynamics

Teaching:

• Global and transnational history in the 20th century
• Special topics in U.S. history

Selected Publications:

• Book: The Welles of Loneliness (University of Chicago Press, forthcoming)
• Peer-reviewed article: “The Trouble with Sumner Welles…” (Journal of American Studies, 2022)
• Contributions to BBC World Histories Magazine and Notches: (re)marks on the History of Sexuality.

Awards & Grants: Currently no awards explicitly listed in provided texts.

Labs/Teams: Affiliated with King’s College London’s Department of History and Queer@King’s initiatives.