Davie Neil

Davie Neil is a Professor at Université Lumière Lyon 2, specializing in the social and intellectual history of 18th-19th century Britain, contemporary politics, and criminal justice policy. His work connects the history of prisons, crime, and policy debates with broader fields like humanities and women's history during the 'long 119th century'.

• PhD in History from University of Oxford (1987)
• Professor at Université Lumière Lyon 2 since 2004
• Director of CARMA (Anglophone World Research Center) 2007-2009
• Academic leadership in British Studies 2011-2017
• Advisor for 7 PhD theses (5 completed, 2 ongoing)

Research Focus examines prisoners of war (especially women) in early 19th-century Britain, penal policy evolution, and historiographical methods. His current project on French/American female prisoners in Channel prisons will be published by Routledge. He bridges military history, socio-history, and gender studies through novel methodological frameworks.

Publications include French and American Prisoners of War at Dartmoor Prison, 1805-1816 (Palgrave 2021) and The Penitentiary Ten (Bardwell Press 2017). His work integrates legal history, feminist theory, and carceral studies.

• Scientific Awards
  • 2020 Prix de thèse Joinet (IFJD)
  • 2018 SAES XVII-XVIII Thesis Prize
  • 2014 Chancellerie des Universités de Paris Award

As director of doctoral studies, he has supervised award-winning research on British political/social history, Anglo-American studies, and penal reform. His academic leadership spans CNU expert panels and master's program coordination.