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Christina de Bellaigue

@cadebellaigue.bsky.social

Historian of 19thC GB & France - social mobility, childhood, gender, women, education; She/Her. Daughter of an immigrant, married to grandson of immigrants. Recently joined Green Party.

2975 Posts1603 Follower1184 Folgt
Dr Laura Sangha@lsangha.bsky.social · 6d ago

Please read this thread from another of my colleagues, whose intellectual distinction was just recognised in her election to the British Academy Fellowship, and who is also at risk of redundancy. 👇

Morwenna Ludlow@morwennaexe.bsky.social · 6d ago

As one of those affected and mentioned in the article, I want very much to acknowledge this is not just about us and not just about Exeter. We’re trying to use our situation to speak more generally. But inevitably our own context is the one we know best and speak about with authority.

Margot Finn@eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 6d ago

And not just Exeter. At least 2 History Leicester FBAs have had to leave the University to stay in the profession due to risk of redundancy, and they won't be the only ones. The much broader issue affects thousands of excellent academics across a spectrum of disciplines (including STEM ones). 1/2

New British Academy fellows at risk in Exeter jobs cull

Being at the ‘top of your game’ no guarantee of job security, warns decorated historian now facing the chop

timeshighereducation.com

@petercracknell.bsky.social · last wk.

If you're a #British citizen, or a #UK resident, consider signing & sharing this UK Parliament petition, created by Chris Packham, which calls for the UK Government to hold a UK-wide briefing on climate & nature risks. #climate & #nature petition.parliament.uk/petitions/76...

Petition: Hold a UK-wide briefing on climate and nature risks

The UK faces growing risks from climate and nature breakdown - from extreme weather to economic disruption and national security threats. Yet the public has never been given a clear national briefing ...

petition.parliament.uk

Christina de Bellaigue@cadebellaigue.bsky.social · last wk.

@sarahknott.bsky.social @vbivar.bsky.social @hannahelias.bsky.social @aishadjelid.bsky.social

Christina de Bellaigue@cadebellaigue.bsky.social · last wk.

Today, Filippo de Vivo, Martin Conway, @faridahzaman.bsky.social and I, along with 30 other members of the Faculty of History at the University of Oxford have written to the leadership of the University of Exeter to express our deep concern about the proposed cuts to Humanities and Social Sciences

We write to express our profound concern at the proposed redundancies at the University of Exeter...History at Exeter has built a global reputation in recent years through its outstanding scholarship, major international research projects, and research-led teaching./We in Oxford have benefitted enormously from collaborations and exchanges with colleagues at Exeter, including on the Socialism Goes Global project, and on a developing programme of research focusing on Downward Social Mobility, and we frequently draw on the excellent work that your department members publish. The Exeter Centre for Global History in particular, has been world-leading in the field and stimulated our work in Oxford, as has the department’s long-established excellence in European, Imperial and Military history, Economic and Social History and the History of Science. We note too, the recent election to Fellowship of the British Academy of Professor Jane Whittle and Professor Mark Jackson, whose work has also inspired and guided ours. We have seen our undergraduates go on to prosper as graduate students in Exeter’s School of Archaeology and History, and recruit Exeter students to our own graduate programmes with enthusiasm, knowing they will have had excellent preparation for their studies. These strengths have taken decades to establish but could be undermined in a matter of months. Such losses would diminish the University’s academic standing, weaken its ability to attract outstanding staff and students, and jeopardise the reputation on which the University’s long-term institutional success depends./The case for cuts of this scale is difficult to reconcile with the University’s own recent financial position or with the continued strength of the disciplines most heavily affected. Rather than protecting Exeter’s future, these proposals, and the consequent restructuring and generalising of the curriculum, risk causing lasting reputational and financial harm while reducing the quality and bread…
Dr Vanessa@hpsvanessa.bsky.social · 2w ago

your regular reminder that the UK"s second largest city has been without a domestic recycling service for 17 months, and no one cares. ps: Shabana Mahmood is one of our local MPs, as is everyone's favourite Jess Philips. Minds on higher things, I guess.

Jane Winters@jfwinters.bsky.social · 2w ago

Royal Historical Society open meeting (online) for historians working in universities, 4 Aug 2026 - ‘The crisis in UK higher education: the future for history’ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-crisis.... It’s a definite sign of the times that places are almost gone.

The Crisis in UK HE: the Future for History

An open meeting for historians in UK higher education on what is needed to best support and protect the profession and discipline.

eventbrite.co.uk

Dr Laura Sangha@lsangha.bsky.social · 2w ago

"And I’ve thought about this, and the answer is yes. I will still be a historian. Because being a historian is about how you engage with the world, it’s about being curious about the people and the environment around you, and asking questions about it'. 3/

A crowd of students in gowns and family members in summery outfits stand listening to a speech by a historian.
Margot Finn@eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 2w ago

'Government investment in defence-related higher education recognises the need for engineering, computing, cyber, robotics and autonomous systems. But if universities educate the next generation of defence specialists while weakening subjects that teach conflict resolution' [continued] 1/3

What universities count – and what they cannot afford to ignore - HEPI

This blog was kindly authored by Anna Zimdars, Christopher Playford, Eve Worth, Luke Graham, Joanna Merrett and Joseph Crawford, members of the Centre for Social Mobility, University of Exeter. He tha...

hepi.ac.uk

elia ayoub@ayoub.bsky.social · 3w ago

Jesus. 35 UK universities quietly- without debate - joined the Ministry of Defence’s “Battlefield Alliance” which seeks to “reorientate academia towards Defence and National Security” They’re destroying the social sciences and humanities while militarising the institutions

• Durham University • Newcastle University • Northumbria University • Lancaster University • University of Cumbria • University of Lancashire • University of Liverpool • University of Manchester • University of Huddersfield • University of Sheffield • University of York • Loughborough University • University of Lincoln • University of Nottingham • Aston University • University of Birmingham • University of Warwick • King's College London • Kingston University • Queen Mary University of London • University College London • University of Oxford • University of Portsmouth • University of Surrey • University of Bath • University of Bristol • University of Exeter • University of Plymouth • University of Edinburgh • University of Glasgow • University of Strathclyde • Cardiff University • Swansea University • Queens University Belfast • Cranfield UniversityFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 14 July 2026 UK Universities Betray Public Trust by Joining MoD's 'Battlefield Advantage' Alliance Without Debate A coalition of campaign groups has accused UK universities of quietly integrating themselves into Britain's defence infrastructure after 35 institutions signed up to the Ministry of Defence's Defence Universities Alliance (DUA). The Ministry of Defence says the alliance aims to "reorientate academia towards Defence and National Security", strengthen links between universities and the defence sector, and translate research into "battlefield advantage". Campaigners say the move represents a significant shift in the role of higher education and has taken place without meaningful public debate. Among the founding members are the University of Oxford, University College London, King's College London, the University of Manchester, the University of Edinburgh, Cardiff University and Queen's University Belfast. "We are witnessing the formal incorporation of Britain's universities into the defence ecosystem," said Jinsella Kennaway, Founder and Executive Director of Demilitarise Education. "The Ministry of Defence is explicit about its intentions. Universities exist to advance knowledge and foster critical inquiry, not to become pipelines for military research and defence recruitment. Students and staff deserve to know who agreed to this and why." Campaigners are calling on all 35 universities to publish the governance documents and board minutes relating to their decision to join the alliance, and to explain whether staff and students were consulted. Many UK universities already maintain relationships with major defence companies, including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo, Thales, Lockheed Martin and QinetiQ. Critics argue that the DUA formalises and accelerates the integration of academia, industry and the state. The coalition warns that, at a time of rising defence spending, universities risk becoming increasingly aligned with governme…
The British Academy@britishacademy.bsky.social · 3w ago

"This is a crisis for social mobility, young people’s careers, the skills our economy depends on and the opportunities available in communities across the UK" Our newest data covered by The Guardian this evening and dropping tomorrow morning to our SHAPE Observatory. shorturl.at/Qpa9Q

Humanities among degrees being ‘extinguished’ by hard-up universities

Exclusive: Experts fear rise in education ‘cold spots’ and social immobility as 4,000 academic posts lost in one year

theguardian.com

Peter Geoghegan@petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 3w ago

🔴 For the past year @lucasamin.bsky.social and I have been investigating Palantir in the UK What we found was a company with unrivalled political access, selling a product many data experts in the NHS don’t use, and don’t rate Please read and share democracyforsale.substack.com/p/its-just-a...

"It's just a waste of time": inside Palantir's £330m NHS failure

Our new investigation reveals the problems with Palantir’s NHS tech - and the unrivalled political access that fuelled the firm’s march into the British state

democracyforsale.substack.com

Christina de Bellaigue@cadebellaigue.bsky.social · 3w ago

@artsemergency.bsky.social @drdaveobrien.bsky.social www.positive.news/economics/im... - sure you’re already in top of this & history of 60s not my field but iirc 1 theory for why was great period for British arts scene students on full maintenance & artists of all types creating while on dole

Ireland is now paying artists a basic income. Will the idea catch on?

Artists boost the economy and enrich society, yet many struggle to make ends meet. Ireland's income scheme aims to change that

positive.news

Liesbeth Corens@onslies.bsky.social · 4w ago

Fuck. This. They've been using that rise in tuition fees to claim they've stabilised the sector. They've used it to say it's ok to raise national insurance contributions. They're now using it to cut one of the few stable things. Logic and maths aren't big in the Department of Education, are they?

Times Higher Education (THE)@timeshighered.bsky.social · last mo.

The Department for Education has confirmed that universities will receive £50.9 million less in teaching grants next academic year. Bridget Phillipson, the education minister has defended the reduction in light of tuition fee rises. https://ow.ly/6UWJ50ZkLlf