Steven Pierce

Dr. Steven Pierce is a Senior Lecturer in Imperial and Post-Colonial History at the University of Manchester’s Department of History. He holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology and History from the University of Michigan (2000) and a B.A. in Political Science from Yale University (1990). Prior to Manchester, he taught at Tulane University (2001–2006). His research focuses on sub-Saharan Africa, particularly northern Nigeria, examining colonial governance, law, corruption, and gender. He is the Senior Editor for Africa at Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East and has held fellowships at institutions like the Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton) and the University of Duisburg-Essen.

Research interests include colonial legal frameworks, the history of corruption discourses in Nigeria, and Islamic criminal law in northern Nigeria. Notable publications include Moral Economies of Corruption (2016) and Farmers and the State in Colonial Kano (2005). Current projects include a sequel to his corruption studies and investigations into colonial-era flogging scandals.

Pierce advises PhD students on sub-Saharan African history and historical anthropology. He has received grants from the Harry F. Guggenheim Foundation and contributed to media outlets like BBC Radio 4 and the Wall Street Journal. His work intersects with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to education and governance.