EVENT: Studies in Imperialism – Celebrating 200 Volumes

To celebrate the publication of the 200th book in our landmark Studies in Imperialism series, Manchester University Press are hosting a special event at the Institute of Historical Research, London.

We look forward to welcoming academics, researchers, and librarians whose engagement with the series has helped shape scholarship and strengthen institutional collections over the past forty years. This milestone provides an opportunity to reflect on the series’ impact and to explore how it can continue to support teaching, research, and library acquisition strategies across imperial and global history.

Read on to find out more and reserve your free space.

About the event

Studies in Imperialism: Celebrating 200 titles
When: Tuesday 26 May, 5.30pm – 7pm
Where: Institute of Historical Research, Senate House, London WC1E 7HU
Tickets are free, but attendees must reserve a space.

What’s happening

This is a roundtable style event with panel members including Andrew Thompson, Nuffield College, Oxford; Alan Lester, University of Sussex; Zoë Laidlaw, University of Melbourne; Jane Lydon, University of Western Australia; Sujit Sivasundaram, University of Cambridge; Katie Donington, Open University. Chaired by Philip Murphy, IHR.

The present

We’re delighted to welcome editors of the series’ 200th volume, Legacies of British slavery in Australia and New Zealand, Zoë Laidlaw and Jane Lydon, who will share the story behind the book’s development and reflect on its contribution to the field.

The evolution

From there we’ll widen the conversation and invite our panel to explore broader shifts in imperial history over the past decade or two, offering a chance to step back and consider the changing landscape of the discipline. Series editors Andrew Thompson and Alan Lester will then speak briefly about their experience shaping the series.

The future

We’ll return to the panel to reflect on where we hope to see the study of empire move next particularly in light of renewed public and political debates around imperialism’s legacy and revival.

The evening will conclude with an open discussion, giving all attendees the opportunity to join the conversation followed by a drinks reception.

Reserve a space

Not able to attend in person?
This is a hybrid event with the option to join online via Zoom. Reserve a space here.

More on the 200th title

Legacies of British slavery in Australia and New Zealand
Edited by Zoë Laidlaw and Jane Lydon

Published in March 2026, this volume uncovers the overlooked links between British slavery and the colonisation of Australia and New Zealand. By tracing how people, wealth and ideas moved from the Caribbean into emerging settler colonies after abolition, the book reveals how slavery’s legacies shaped societies far beyond the Atlantic. At a moment when debates about empire and historical responsibility are intensifying, its findings feel especially timely.
Buy now

About the series

Studies in Imperialism: Redefining empire for 40 years

When Manchester University Press’ Studies in Imperialism series was founded, its central assumption was that ‘imperialism as a cultural phenomenon had as significant an effect on the dominant as on the subordinate societies’. Now, 200 titles in, this remains the prime concern. The series has been a proud home to monographs and edited volumes covering a huge range of topics, including gender, migration, decolonisation, environment, religion, monarchy, family, politics, law, education, culture, and museums. It has focused on many colonised areas and a variety of colonising powers, including Germany, Netherlands, France, Italy, and all four nations of the British Empire.

Studies in Imperialism always seeks to be at the cutting edge, responding to the latest interests of scholars and the needs of this ever-expanding area of scholarship.
Explore the series

Imperialism and Colonial History titles at your fingertips

Legacies of British slavery in Australia and New Zealand, together with the majority of titles from the Studies in Imperialism series, form the backbone of our Imperialism and Colonial History Collection. This essential digital resource brings together over 260 ebooks, offering a comprehensive exploration of the cultural encounters between colonisers and the colonised, and illuminating the power dynamics and identity formations that shaped imperial worlds.
Browse the collection

Exclusive offer for libraries

Purchase the 2024, 2025 and 2026 copyright years of the Imperialism and Colonial History Collection before 31 July 2026 and receive perpetual access to the full backlist (all titles published up to 2023) at no additional cost:

Think this would be beneficial to students and faculty at your institution?
We encourage you to recommend it to your library and advise that they contact Kate Horton at katharine.horton@manchester.ac.uk to claim this offer.