Lucy Riall

Lucy Riall is a Part-time Professor in the Department of History at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Italy. She is also a corresponding fellow of the British Academy. Previously, she served as Professor of the History of Europe in the World at EUI until August 2024 and was Professor of History at Birkbeck, University of London. Her academic career reflects a deep engagement with transnational and global historical frameworks.

• Part-time Professor, Department of History, European University Institute (current)
• Professor of the History of Europe in the World, EUI (until August 2024)
• Professor of History, Birkbeck, University of London (former)
• Corresponding Fellow, British Academy

Lucy Riall’s research focuses on cultural, political, and transnational dimensions of modern European history, particularly during the 19th and 20th centuries. Her work explores themes such as nationalism, empires, colonialism, migration, and informal imperialism, with regional expertise in the Mediterranean, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific. She investigates how European powers extended influence beyond formal colonies, especially through migration and economic networks.

Her recent publications center on Italian migration and colonial presence in South America, reflecting a broader interest in global mobility and identity formation. Articles like “From Merchant Prince to Mobile Nation” and “Hidden Spaces of Empire” analyze the transnational lives of Italians abroad, emphasizing the interplay between migration, economic enterprise, and imperial dynamics. These works contribute to the growing field of transnational and global history, challenging traditional nation-centered narratives.

Lucy Riall has been recognized for her scholarly contributions, most notably through her election as a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy, one of the highest honors in the humanities and social sciences.

• Corresponding Fellow, British Academy

She actively supervises PhD students at the EUI, guiding research in political, transnational, and cultural history. Her academic mentorship extends to serving as second reader for numerous doctoral candidates. While no specific grants are mentioned, her leadership in research projects such as the Political History Working Group indicates sustained research funding and collaborative activity. Her editorial work on gender and masculinity further demonstrates her interdisciplinary reach.

• Supervisees: Alejandro Salamanca Rodríguez, Dann Grotum, Elati Pontikopoulou-Venieri, Eoghan Hussey, Erlend Colleuille, Julià Gómez Reig, Lewis Driver, Roberto Larrañaga Domínguez, William Sims, Xavier Granell
• Second reader for: Andreas Schurr, Bas Rensen, Björn Johnsen, Brian O'Connor, Corentin Gruffat, Giselle Bernard, Lucile Boucher, Niklas Platzer, Salvador Lima, Sven Mörsdorf, Thomas Croisez, Tobias Kossytorz

Lucy Riall is affiliated with the Department of History at EUI, participating in the Political History Working Group. While no formal lab is mentioned, her collaborative research environment includes editorial teams, working groups, and international scholarly networks focused on global and transnational history.