Christopher Prior

Dr. Christopher Prior is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Southampton. His research focuses on British imperial history, postcolonial legacies, and modern sub-Saharan Africa. He holds a PhD from the University of Durham and has previously taught at the University of Leeds and University College Dublin. Prior’s current research examines British foreign policy in post-decolonization Africa, emphasizing Cold War dynamics, democracy, and counter-espionage.

Education:

• PhD in History, University of Durham
• Previous academic positions at Leeds and University College Dublin

Research Interests:

Dr. Prior explores socio-political networks shaping British colonial/postcolonial actions, with thematic focuses on race, decolonization, and humanitarianism. His work bridges imperial decline, Cold War interventions, and African nationalist movements.

Recent Research Trends:

Publications span colonial knowledge production (e.g., Frank Oates studies), postcolonial diplomacy in the 1950s–60s, and interdisciplinary methodological critiques in information systems research. Articles often address UK-Africa relations, Cold War espionage, and colonial legal frameworks.

Grants & Awards:

• Decolonising Victorian histories: Frank Oates, geographic exploration and teaching imperial history and environmental science (AHRC-funded, with Pete Langdon)

Advising:

• Supervising PhD student William Law (History)

Labs/Teams:

• Member of the Southampton Centre for Nineteenth-Century Research and the Centre for Imperial and Postcolonial Studies.