Since the inaugural conference held at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, London, in 1998, academics from around the globe have been exploring a number of themes, issues and arguments in an attempt to define a working concept of the British World.
Following the first meeting there have been four more conferences, in Cape Town (2002), Calgary (2003), Melbourne (2004) and Auckland (2005). These conferences took a broad approach, debating themes such as migration, identity formation and competing forms of what it means to be ‘British’ in the dominions.
Robert Bickers, Professor of History in the Department of Historical Studies at Bristol University and a member of the conference organising committee, said: “The main objective of this year's conference is to reflect on what has been done to date, provide opportunities for developing new research agendas and, most importantly, to continue to map and define what is meant by the British World.”
During the conference, academics will investigate themes including Slavery and the British World; other British Worlds (India, West Indies, Middle East and Far East); Globalisation, Economics and Empire; and Communications, Networks and the British World.
Researchers believe that the British World was not held together simply by sentiment, a common heritage and shared institutions. It was also bound together by networks ranging from family and community affiliations, commercial and professional associations and educational and religious groups to philanthropic and scientific organisations.
Conference chair Dr Kent Fedorowich from UWE said: “Since the first British World conference at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies in London in 1998, scholars from around the globe have tried to create a working concept of the ‘British World’ - a concept that extends far beyond the physical confines of those regions on the map that were once painted red.”
The conference is being hosted at Bristol University by the Centre for the Study of Colonial and Postcolonial Societies. Both collaborating universities have given generous support to the event, as have a variety of UK funding agencies including the Economic History Society, the Royal Historical Society, the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy.