Swansea University - Callaghan Centre for the Study of Conflict

The Callaghan Centre for the Study of Conflict, Power, Empire



Director: Professor Nicola Cooper (n.cooper@swan.ac.uk)

The Callaghan’s remit has been broadened significantly, as reflected in its new name, and as a result now provides a hub for the research activities of a wider section of the school of Arts and Humanities.


Four ‘themes’ or strands’ have been identified as providing the initial impetus and focus for the Callaghan’s work, as they regroup a significant number of staff. These themes are:    

1. Conflict and Security   

2. Empire, Race and Postcolonialism   

3. Conflict and Culture   

4. Digital War

These strands will have shorter or longer lifespans, depending on the changing remit of the RCUK and the evolving interests of staff. The current themes should not be viewed as set in stone, they provide a starting-point, and the Callaghan is open to suggestions for further themes, as long as these have a clear end-function (network or workshop bid, collaborative bid , impact-bearing activities etc).

The Callaghan will not be running a seminar series, but will instead organise its activities around a series of day or half-day workshops which will focus either on one of the identified themes, or on the Centre’s response to important emerging research priorities (eg RCUK ‘Global Uncertainties) or significant research markers (eg the Callaghan’s response to the emphasis on ‘impact’ and ‘knowledge transfer’). These workshops are open to everyone, and further details will be available shortly.

The Callaghan Centre provides a home for the Journal of War and Culture Studies (published by Intellect) Interdisciplinary and international in scope, the Journal of War and Culture Studies emphasizes cultural histories and cultural production as significant forces that have shaped experiences, representations and memories of war. See http://www.intellectbooks.co.uk/journals/view-Journal,id=150/


Current Funded Research
British Asia and the British Atlantic: Two worlds or One?  

Wales and the British overseas empire, 1600-1960

Tianjin under Nine Flags: Comparative Colonial Practices

Recent International Conferences

‘Men at War: Identities, Masculinities, Cultures’

10-11 September 2009.

‘Communities in Conflict: Civil Wars and their Legacies’
4-5 September 2009-09-25



Patron: The Right Honorable Lord David Owen CH FRCP