Ben Silverstein

Ben Silverstein is a Lecturer in Indigenous Studies at the Australian National University (ANU), affiliated with the School of History within the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences. He is also an Honorary Member of the Research Centre for Deep History. His research focuses on colonial and Indigenous histories, particularly in Australia, emphasizing settler colonialism, race, and sovereignty. He holds a BA (Hons), LLB (Hons) from the University of Melbourne and a PhD from La Trobe University. His book Governing Natives: Indirect Rule and Settler Colonialism in Australia’s North (2019) examines interwar-era governance of Aboriginal peoples. Silverstein co-edits Aboriginal History and has supervised research students in related fields. He has contributed to projects such as the Global Research Partnerships Scheme (2019–2024) and the Rediscovering the Deep Human Past initiative (2018–2025). His work bridges deep history with contemporary Indigenous struggles, emphasizing the intersection of memory, colonial legacies, and Indigenous knowledge systems.

Education:

• PhD in History, La Trobe University
• LLB (Hons), University of Melbourne
• BA (Hons), University of Melbourne

Research Interests: Silverstein’s work interrogates the dynamics of settler colonialism, particularly in Australia’s Northern Territory. He explores how colonial policies, such as indirect rule, shaped Aboriginal governance and sovereignty. His research also addresses memory studies, deep history, and the ethical responsibilities of historians in confronting genocidal histories. His recent projects emphasize collaborative approaches with Indigenous communities, exemplified by his work with Yawuru Country and the Didirrgun/Kennedy Hill project.

Grants and Projects:

• Global Research Partnerships Scheme (2019–2024): Investigates transnational connections in Indigenous histories.
• Rediscovering the Deep Human Past (2018–2025): Explores interdisciplinary approaches to deep-time historical narratives.

Labs/Teams: Affiliated with the Research Centre for Deep History, ANU, and collaborates with international scholars on settler colonialism and Indigenous studies.