Diaspora Politics, Identity and Heritage: The British Association of Malaya and Singapore, c1870 to 1970 (RDF17/HUM/BUELTMANN)

We invite applications for a PhD studentship in British diaspora history. The topic of the studentship has some flexibility, but it is expected to generally focus on examining the history of the British Association of Malaya and Singapore (BAMS). Associations have long since played a vital role in British diaspora communities around the world. Yet while often cast as offering a formalised home for migrants keen to maintain the identity and heritage of their old homeland, associations usually served much wider functions. BAMS, from its first inception in the mid-nineteenth century (originally set up as the Straits Settlement Association), certainly transcended identity roles, serving the wider interests of those who lived in, had returned from, or had business interests in Malaya and Singapore. While the organisation of social and cultural events played a part in the association’s operations, political lobbying and wider political concerns, for instance relating to the development of the Malayan Union, were important to the group’s activities. Moreover, the association also acted as a keeper of heritage when, after the Second World War, group members began acquiring and collecting photographs documenting life in Singapore and Malaya.

Within this wider context of BAMS activities the studentship project may examine themes that fall within any/all of the following areas:
• The inner workings of BAMS, its organisation, leaders and membership.
• The social and ethno-cultural roles of BAMS, from activities such as dinners and luncheons to cultural celebrations, aiming to shed light on the role of both memory and heritage in British diaspora communities in Asia, and diaspora heritage that was brought back to the UK with returnees from Asia.
• The association’s political functions, wider lobbying network and business interests.
• BAMS as a lens on key moments of heightened political and identitarian questions concerning the Malaya peninsula in a postcolonial world.
• BAMS as a keeper of heritage and preserver of history through its extensive collection of photographs.
• BAMS and mobility/transnational diaspora connections to explore wider questions concerning historic movements between Britain and Asia.

The successful candidate for the studentship will be closely supported by Dr Tanja Bueltmann, who will be the lead supervisor. Clear guidance will be provided as to the scope of the project. Training in source analysis will be offered and the student will also benefit from the Department of Humanities’ doctoral training programme. The student will enjoy strong peer support in what is a large and friendly group of postgraduates within Northumbria University’s Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences, and financial support will be provided for necessary archival trips (BAMS records are located in the UK). The Institute of Humanities will serve as a natural intellectual home for the project. Additionally, History at Northumbria University offers access to a strong resource base (e.g. access to digital newspaper archives and other digital collections) that will enable important research components of this project, which has significant potential to make a critical contribution to knowledge in the fields of diaspora and British World history.

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.