Kenneth Morrison

Kenneth Morrison is Professor of History (Chair in Modern Southeast European History) and Research and Innovation Director at De Montfort University, UK, affiliated with the School of Humanities and Performing Arts within the Faculty of Arts, Design and Humanities. He is also a UN Sustainable Development Goal Fellow, focusing on SDG 16 and 11. He previously held visiting positions at the London School of Economics and has taught at University College London.

Education:

• PhD in History and Area Studies, University of Stirling
• MA (Hons) in Politics and International Relations, University of Aberdeen

His research centers on modern Southeast European history, with specializations in nationalism, ethnic conflict, peacebuilding, and the role of hospitality in wartime urban conflicts. His work bridges academic scholarship and public engagement, with extensive contributions to media and policy. He has authored and co-authored major books on Montenegro, the Sandžak, and Sarajevo’s Holiday Inn, and his research on war hotels led to a documentary series and the founding of the Hotel History Foundation.

His recent publications reflect a strong focus on post-Yugoslav political transitions, religious conflict, and media in war. These works span disciplines including history, political science, religious studies, and urban conflict, with recurring themes of identity, statehood, and memory.

Scientific Awards:

• DMU Prize for Research-Engaged Teaching (2021)
• Shortlisted, Times Higher Education Research Project of the Year (2018)
• DMU Oscars Award for Outstanding Contribution to Research Excellence (2018)
• Research Excellence Award, Faculty of Art, Design and Humanities (2018)
• Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Prize (2014, 2011)
• Trevor Thomas Prize for Teaching Excellence (UCL, 2007)

Kenneth supervises PhD students on topics including wartime identity, rock music in Yugoslavia, geopolitical shifts in Bosnia, and hospitality in conflict zones. He has secured research funding and led projects in collaboration with institutions like the History Museum of Bosnia & Herzegovina. He has served as a Specialist Adviser to the UK House of Lords and as a consultant for the FCDO, NATO, OSCE, and Freedom House.

He is Co-Director of the Hotel History Foundation in Sarajevo and a trustee of Most Mira (Bridge of Peace) and the British Scholarship Trust. He advises on museum exhibitions and international conferences, playing a key role in peacebuilding and cultural preservation in the Western Balkans.