Dr Mark Hurst
Lecturer in the History of Human RightsResearch Overview
My research focuses predominantly on human rights organisations and activists during the Cold War, and more broadly in the history of human rights, dissent, and political activism, especially the Soviet Union and post-Soviet Russia. Alongside this, I have wide research interests in contemporary British history, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the history of comedy, 'soft power', and the history of sport (especially cycling).
Current Teaching
My taught modules include:
HIST259 Inventing Human Rights, 1776-2001
HIST357 'Dangerous Thoughts': Soviet Dissidents, Human Rights and the Cold War
HIST401 Research and Writing History
HIST446 'Fighting without Fire': Non-Military Conflict from 1945 to Today
Professional Role
In the 2018/2019 academic year, I was a Fellow of the Institute for Social Futures
External Roles
I am a member of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Peer Review College
PhD Supervision Interests
I am interested in supervising PhD students working on the history of human rights, non-governmental organisations, political protest and 'soft power' amongst other topics relating to my research. If you would like to be supervised for a PhD on these topics, please contact me via email.
2024
Book/Film/Article review
Lara Montesinos Coleman. Struggles for the Human. Violent Legality and the Politics of Rights. [Global & Insurgent Legalities.] Duke University Press, Durham (NC) [etc.] 2024. xiv, 250 pp. $104.95. (Paper, E-book: $27.95.)
Hurst, M. 31/12/2024 In: International Review of Social History. 69, 3, 4 p.Review: Barbara Martin, Roy and Zhores Medvedev: Loyal Dissent in the Soviet Union
Hurst, M. 14/10/2024 In: H-Russia.Matthew Gerth, Anti-communism in Britain during the Early Cold War: A Very British Witch Hunt
Hurst, M. 27/06/2024 In: Labour History Review. 89, 2Review: David Owen, Human Rights, and the Remaking of British Foreign Policy
Hurst, M. 23/05/2024 In: Diplomacy and Statecraft. 35, 2, 2 p.
Journal article
Activism across Borders: A Human Rights Perspective
Hurst, M. 30/04/2024 In: International Review of Social History. 69, 1, p. 147-155. 9 p.
Chapter (peer-reviewed)
Human Rights and Transnational Networks
Hurst, M. 25/04/2024 In: Handbook of the Global 1980s. Routledge
Conflict Series: Russia and Ukraine
Invited talk
David Kynaston: A Northern Wind
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
- FASS Health Hub
- Institute for Social Futures Fellow