During the academic year 2024-25, the program theme will be “Colonial Residues.” Colonialism is frequently evoked today as a root cause of global inequity or, in some jarring instances, nostalgic celebration. In both the “new” states and the “old” ones that reluctantly let them go, colonialism’s many impacts are ubiquitous—its traces often tangible and measurable, shaping political regimes and socioeconomic wellbeing while also determining whose stories are told and by whom; whose achievements are celebrated and how; and whose resources are used, removed, or polluted. Even when not immediately visible, colonial residues are arguably present, much like the microplastics that now pervade air, water, and earth. We therefore invite applications from scholars whose work expands our understanding of this phenomenon. Applicants may address any region of the world, past and present, and may be from any disciplinary background in the humanities and social sciences. The hope is that we will enable a truly exceptional set of international scholars to come together to interrogate today’s colonial residues beyond the traditional binary of colony and metropole, asking how they may be apprehended, and if there might not even be scalable solutions for our common future.

Michael F. Laffan

Paula Chow Professor of International and Regional Studies; Professor of History

Please visit our Call for Applications webpage for more information about the application process and requirements.