Paul Nugent

Professor Paul Nugent is a Professor of Comparative African History at the School of History, Classics and Archaeology at the University of Edinburgh, where he also serves as Research Director in History. His work bridges historical scholarship with contemporary policy concerns, particularly regarding African borderlands, wine history, and governance dynamics across the continent.

Professor Nugent holds a BA Hons from the University of Cape Town, and MA and PhD from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London. His academic journey began with a temporary lectureship in Comparative Politics at Keele University before joining Edinburgh, where he was promoted to Reader in 2003 and Professor in 2005.

Professor Nugent's research primarily focuses on the comparative history of African borderlands, with particular attention to West Africa. His work examines how border regions have shaped state formation, governance, and everyday life, challenging conventional notions of margins and centers. He has also conducted extensive research on the history of the South African wine industry, exploring connections between race, consumption, and economic development. His scholarship spans colonial and postcolonial history, with special attention to Ghana, where he has studied electoral politics and social contracts. Professor Nugent approaches these topics through interdisciplinary frameworks that connect historical analysis with contemporary policy challenges.

His scholarly output demonstrates remarkable consistency in exploring the intersections between space, power, and identity in African contexts. Over the past decade, his work has increasingly focused on the governance implications of infrastructure development and border management across the continent, while maintaining his longstanding interest in Ghanaian politics and the cultural history of wine production.

• ERC Advanced Grant (€2.5 million over 5 years) for "African Governance and Space: Transport Corridors, Border Towns and Port Cities in Transition" (AFRIGOS)
• Leverhulme Research Fellowship for research on South African wine history
• British Academy ODA-Challenge grant (2024-2025) for "Living Heritage, Climate Change and Sustainability in South African Agriculture"
• Fellow of the Stellenbosch Institute of Advanced Study (STIAS)
• Member of the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) in Princeton
• FRHistS (Fellow of the Royal Historical Society)

Professor Nugent has supervised 34 successful PhD projects and currently mentors doctoral students including Francesco Longo and Kpanie Addy. His supervisory interests span wine and cultural heritage, African borderlands, regional integration, consumption studies (particularly alcohol), West African politics, and comparative imperial and colonial history. He has received significant research funding including a major ERC Advanced Grant and multiple British Academy grants, demonstrating the impact and relevance of his work to contemporary policy debates. His engagement extends beyond academia through advisory roles with the African Union Border Programme, ECOWAS, and the UNDP African Borderlands Centre.

Professor Nugent founded and chairs the African Borderlands Research Network (ABORNE), which has evolved into a major international collaborative platform. He has also led significant research projects including the ERC-funded AFRIGOS project, which examined governance effects of large-scale infrastructure investments across Africa, and currently serves as PI for a British Academy project addressing climate action in the South African wine industry.