Losing an Empire and Finding a Role: Britain in the World ca 1940 – 1990

Applications are invited for an Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC DTP-funded Collaborative Doctoral Award at The Open University, in partnership with the Churchill Archives Centre at Churchill College, University of Cambridge. 

This fully funded studentship is available from October 2025. Further details about the value of an Open-Oxford-Cambridge AHRC DTP award are available on the DTP’s studentships page.  

Closing date: 7th  January 2025, midday UK time 

Project overview 

This Collaborative Doctoral Award invites applicants to consider Britain’s foreign relations during the transformative period between ca 1940 and 1990. While in 1940 Winston Churchill spoke of the British Empire lasting another thousand years, within decades the empire had come to an end, with different relations developed with newly independent countries. This period also saw the development of the ‘special relationship’ between the UK and the United States and, in the context of the Cold War, the creation of NATO and the development of nuclear weapons in Britain. This era was equally marked by the process of European integration, with successive British governments navigating relations with, and ultimately membership of, the European Community. New historical research in these areas has the potential not only to make a significant contribution to the academic literature but equally to timely public debates in the UK and beyond. The histories and legacies of the British Empire, decolonisation, and migration in an increasingly multicultural Britain have been the subject of significant scholarship and public debate. In the wake of Brexit, the UK’s involvement in European integration has similarly become a central focus on scholarly and public attention. In the face of growing international threats, meanwhile, the role of NATO and of the ‘special relationship’ are equally being re-examined. This CDA will invite the successful applicant to contribute to some of these debates through original historical research on an aspect of Britain’s foreign relations ca 1940 – 1990. 

The successful applicant will draw upon the rich collections of the Churchill Archives Centre, which include the papers of former prime ministers Winston Churchill (1940-45; 1951-55) and Margaret Thatcher (1979-1990) and former foreign secretaries including Ernest Bevin (1945-51), John Selwyn Lloyd (1955-1960) and Michael Stewart (1965-66; 1968-70). These and the hundreds of other collections at the Centre cover a wide range of material, including personal correspondence, meeting minutes, briefing papers and photographs. Making use of these and other primary sources, the applicant may choose to explore one or more of the following themes, although we would be happy to consider suitable topics not listed here: 

-Decolonisation, the development of the Commonwealth and Britain’s relations with newly independent countries 

-migration and multiculturalism in the UK 

-Britain’s relations with third countries, e.g. the United States, France, Germany 

-the UK and European integration 

-Britain’s defence policy, including NATO and its independent nuclear deterrent 

Given the breadth of the collections, applicants are invited to develop a research project on any aspect of Britain’s foreign relations between ca 1940 and 1990, provided the research project would make use of the collections of the Churchill Archives Centre. The successful project need not deal with the entire period, but could instead focus on a more specific timeframe between ca 1940 and 1990. Similarly, proposals are not expected to address the full breadth of British foreign policy during this period, but are instead encouraged to focus on a specific bilateral relationship, Britain’s role in specific international or supranational institutions, and/or a specific aspect of larger phenomena such as decolonisation or migration. Interdisciplinary projects are welcome, and depending on the proposal it would be possible to appoint a co-supervisor from another discipline to support interdisciplinary research.  

Supervision 

The candidate will be co-supervised between The Open University and the Churchill Archives Centre, Cambridge. The lead academic supervisor will be Dr Luc-André Brunet, Senior Lecturer in Contemporary International History, whose expertise includes British foreign policy ca 1940-1990, transatlantic relations, European integration and nuclear history ca 1940-1990. The student would also have a second supervisor from the Open University, who will be appointed based on the topic of the successful application. Co-supervision will be provided by Sophie Bridges, Archivist at the Churchill Archives Centre. 

The candidate shall have access to all Open University doctoral training opportunities, in addition to which the Churchill Archives Centre will provide the successful applicant with unique training, facilities and expertise. The student will receive one-on-one training on handling, organising and interpreting archives, with exceptional access to the collections of the Centre. They will also be given training and experience in cataloguing collections and/or providing enhanced descriptions to existing catalogues. This will provide the student with inside knowledge of archives and the cataloguing process, which will equip them with invaluable skills and experience for careers in archives, museums, libraries and other cultural collections, in addition to more conventional academic posts.  

The CDA student will also be expected to contribute to the public engagement activities of the Centre, with relevant training and mentoring provided by expert staff at the Centre. Activities may include organising public lectures and events, curating an online or physical exhibition, authoring blog posts, and/or producing research guides or teaching materials based on the collections. Students will also be provided with desk space at the Centre and have access to additional facilities at Churchill College and Cambridge University, such as dining halls and libraries. 

How to apply  

In making an application you are applying to both the OOC DTP and to the OU. This means you will need to complete two application forms. Please read OU guidance and OOC guidance before completing the application forms.  

 

  • You are reminded that you must sign the form and should give the names and addresses of two academic referees and their institutional email addresses who are willing to comment on your academic achievements to date and on your potential for undertaking research. (Please check that your referees will be available to be contacted during the application period.)    

(e.g. SURNAME_Initial_Subject Area_OOC _DTP_CDA) 

We recommend that you make contact/apply at the earliest stage so that we can work with you to maximise your potential for a successful application. Please note you are responsible for making sure that all required documents, including references, are submitted before midday 7th January 2025 and meet the University’s requirements. If your application is submitted late, and/or it is incomplete, it will not normally be assessed.