Michał Leśniewski

Michał Leśniewski is a Professor in the Faculty of History at the University of Warsaw, specializing in 19th and 20th-century history, with a focus on the British Empire, European colonialism, and the history of South Africa and the United Kingdom. He has been affiliated with the Institute of History since 1991 and has held the rank of full Professor since 2021.

His research interests include:

• History of the British Empire
• European colonialism in Africa
• Anglo-Boer and Zulu-Boer relations
• 19th and 20th-century diplomatic history
• Indigenous resistance and colonial encounters in Southern Africa

Leśniewski’s scholarly output reveals a consistent focus on archival-based analysis of colonial conflicts, imperial diplomacy, and the interplay between European powers and African societies. His publications often engage with understudied episodes such as the Klip River Affair and the Khoi-khoi resistance, emphasizing nuanced interpretations of power, identity, and conflict in Southern Africa.

His scientific awards include:

• Fulbright scholarship (1995–1996) at Indiana University Bloomington
• Scholarship at the Kennedy Institute, Freie Universität Berlin (1994)
• Oxford Hospitality Scheme at Nuffield College (1995)

Leśniewski has engaged in extensive international research collaborations, including scholar exchanges with the University of Notre Dame (2001–2002) and participation in conferences such as the centenary of the Boer War in Bloemfontein (1999). He has conducted archival research in London, Cape Town, Durban, and Pietermaritzburg, and has been a regular contributor to Werkwinkel. Journal of Low Countries and South African Studies. Since 2017, he has been a member of the African Studies Association. He advises graduate students and remains actively involved in academic life through consultations and ongoing research.

He is affiliated with the Department of 20th Century History and maintains a regular consultation schedule. His ORCID is 0000-0003-3647-6281.