In the Aftermath of Empire: Postcolonial Careering of Former Colonial Experts

This seminar examines former British colonial officials and staff with post-independence careers in overseas development, including some with links to the University of Reading. Many continued to work in former colonial territories, including for international agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization. These histories help to deepen understanding of how the last generation of British colonial officers influenced postcolonial ideas, practices and institutions.

About the speaker: Joseph M. Hodge is Associate Professor of Modern British and British imperial history at West Virginia University. He is author of Triumph of the Expert: Agrarian Doctrines of Development and the Legacies of British Colonialism (2007) and is currently working on a book titled In the Aftermath of Empire. His MERL Research Fellowship (2011-2012) examined the archives of relevant people with links to the University of Reading, including Hugh Bunting.