The environmental ‘turn’ in modern British politics and culture (RDF17/HUM/KELLY)

In 1970 the Council of Europe declared the first European Year of Conservation, the UK’s incoming Conservative government created the Department of the Environment, the Ecologist magazine published its first issue and around the same time Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace were founded. Although these developments did not come as a bolt from the blue, few would dispute that the 1970s witnessed an intensification of environmental concern in British popular culture and public life. Magazines like The Vole (1977-1980) helped popularise the agenda, sitcoms like The Good Life (1975-1978) satirised the well-meaning middle-classes, and government reports like Sandford (1975) and Porchester (1977) attempted to explain the predicament and offer possible solutions. More broadly, popular culture became increasingly saturated with concern for nature and animals, whether through television programming like David Attenborough’s Life on Earth (1979) and the output of the BBC’s Natural History Unit or the extraordinarily successful novels of Richard Adams (Watership Down (1975) and The Plague Dogs (1977)). The growing sense of crisis was only intensified by increasing consciousness of the ecological harm caused by intensive agriculture and atmospheric pollution, the seeming incapacity of the government to protect National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and the increased awareness that the earth’s resources were finite, particularly in the light of rapid population growth and increasing consumption.

Few of these subjects have yet to attract their historian and this PhD Studentship provides an opportunity to shape a research agenda around these themes. The chronological scope of the proposal should fall within the period roughly bounded by the 1968 Countryside Act and the 1995 Environment Act, though those these Acts need not frame the approach. The focus might fall on popular culture and the media, local and/or national activism and lobbying, the development of conservation expertise and its impact on government policy, the ideological underpinnings of ‘green’ thinking and environmental governance, the performance of state or non-state institutions, or broader issues related to natural resource use and environmental protection. Any historical approach might be taken, though proposals seeking to devote some attention to the development of conservation thinking are particularly welcome, and it is essential the applicant can identify a substantial and accessible primary source base. This description is intended to be indicative rather than restrictive and applicants are warmly encouraged to contact Professor Kelly, who would be happy to discuss the development of the proposal and the approach the PhD might take.

Eligibility and How to Apply
Please note eligibility requirement:
• Academic excellence of the proposed student i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities [preference for 1st class honours]); or a Masters (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement.
• Appropriate IELTS score, if required (evidence required by 1 August 2017).

For further details of how to apply, entry requirements and the application form, see
https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-degrees/how-to-apply/

Please ensure you quote the advert reference above on your application form.
Deadline for applications: 20 January 2017
Start Date: 2 October 2017

Northumbria University is an equal opportunities provider and in welcoming applications for studentships from all sectors of the community we strongly encourage applications from women and under-represented groups.