Nicholas Crowson

Professor Nicholas Crowson, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS), is the Professor of Contemporary British History in the Department of History at the School of History and Cultures, University of Birmingham. His research focuses on homelessness, NGOs, and British social and political history since 1880. Contact details: n.j.crowson@bham.ac.uk | Telephone: +44 (0)121 414 5485

Education:

• BA in History, University of Southampton
• PhD in Modern History, University of Southampton

Research interests span:

• Homelessness from the late 19th century to the present
• NGOs and social activism in Britain (1945–1997)
• British-European policy post-1945 and inter-war foreign policy
• Modern British party politics and governance
• Historical perspectives on housing, local government, and social welfare

Recent publications emphasize homelessness, NGO influence, and policy debates. His work traces the evolution of homelessness narratives, state-NGO interactions, and the role of advocacy groups like Shelter and Crisis. Key books include The Politics of Expertise (2013) and A Historical Guide to NGOs in Britain (2012), reflecting his interdisciplinary engagement with civil society and public policy.

Scientific Awards and Honors:

• Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS)

Advising and Grants: Professor Crowson teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses. His research has received major funding from the Leverhulme Trust (NGO history) and an AHRC Resource Enhancement Grant to develop the DANGO database (Archives of UK NGOs since 1945).