About
David Anderson is a Professor in African History at the University of Warwick's Faculty of Arts. His academic career spans over four decades, including roles as Professor in African Politics at the University of Oxford (2006-12) and Senior Lecturer in History at SOAS, University of London (1991-2002). His research focuses on colonial history, counter-insurgency, decolonization, and environmental politics. Anderson holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of Cambridge (1978-82) and a B.A. in History from the University of Sussex (1975-78).
His notable works include Histories of the Hanged (2005), examining British counter-insurgency in Kenya, and Eroding the Commons (2002), analyzing colonial environmental policies. He has been honored with the 2025 Award for Research Communications, Fellow of the British Academy (2022–), and the Guggenheim Distinguished Scholar (2021–23).
Anderson has supervised over 20 doctoral students, many of whom now hold academic positions globally. His research extends to public engagement, including documentaries on colonial history and Mau Mau rebellion. He is affiliated with the Global History & Culture Centre at Warwick and collaborates internationally on projects like the Stellenbosch-Warwick Partnership.
Key themes in his work include colonial violence, environmental change, and postcolonial governance, reflected in his lectures and publications on topics such as Kenya’s detention camps, climate-driven conflicts, and the 'Migrated Archive' controversy.
