Christina Horvath

Dr. Christina Horvath is a Reader in the Department of Politics, Languages & International Studies at the University of Bath, affiliated with the Centre for Qualitative Research and the Centre for the Study of Violence. She holds a PhD in French Contemporary Urban Novel from Paris 3 Sorbonne Nouvelle (2003). Her research explores urban spaces as sites of cultural encounter and political power, with a focus on migration, postcolonial theory, and co-creation methodologies. She co-founded the Banlieue Network and led an AHRC-funded project on interdisciplinary collaboration in disadvantaged urban areas. Her current work investigates comparative urban narratives (French banlieues, Brazilian favelas) and applies co-creation to address stigmatization and engage local communities in the Bath-Bristol region.

• Education: Doctor of Letters in French Contemporary Urban Novel, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle - Paris 3 (2003)

Her research interests include global urban culture, postcolonial minorities, and memory studies. Key projects include RISE H2020-funded co-creation initiatives in Oxford, Mexico City, and Rio de Janeiro. She collaborates with heritage institutions (e.g., Bristol Museums) and community centers to decolonize narratives and address slavery legacies in UNESCO-protected cities like Bath. Recent work focuses on agonistic methodologies to foster inclusive urban spaces.

Dr. Horvath has published widely on banlieue narratives, co-creation practices, and transnational memoryscapes. Her 2024 publications highlight slavery legacies in Bath and Bristol, while earlier work addresses rap music’s role in reinventing banlieue identities and co-creation in favela tourism. She received the 2024 Doctoral Recognition Award for her contributions to research environments.

• Grants & Projects:
  • RISE H2020 Co-CREATION Project (2017–2025)
  • Decolonising the Botanical Garden (British Academy, 2021–2023)
  • Urban Humanities Network (2021–2021)
• Supervision: Focuses on French literature, urban culture, postcolonial studies, and memory politics.
• Collaborations: Partnerships with NGOs in Europe, Mexico, and Brazil; local Bath-Bristol institutions like Knowle West Community Centre.

Her interdisciplinary approach bridges literature, sociology, and urban planning to address contemporary challenges in global cities.