Jonathan Hill

Professor Jonathan Hill is the Director of the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at King’s College London, within the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy and the Defence Studies Department. He specializes in the history of nationalism and nation-building in the French Maghreb, with a focus on Algeria and Tunisia. His research explores continuities between colonial and postcolonial eras, including modern sport’s role in colonial contexts. He has held visiting positions at the LSE and St. Antony’s College, Oxford, and serves on editorial boards for journals like The Middle East Journal.

His research interests include authoritarianism, political transitions, and conflict dynamics in North Africa and the Middle East. Notable works include Democratisation in the Maghreb (2016) and studies on Algeria’s post-independence challenges. He is fluent in French (DALF C2) and affiliated with the Africa Research Group at King’s.

Recent publications analyze authoritarian resilience in Morocco post-Arab Spring and the Maghreb’s geopolitical dynamics. His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary political issues, emphasizing colonial legacies and their impact on modern governance. He actively supervises PhD students in related fields.