BIHG Annual Conference 2026
2-4 September 2026
Loughborough University

In the very near future, we will be sharing with you some of our plans for the next British International History Group at Loughborough University in September. We would also like to begin our planning for next year's conference.

If you are potentially interested in hosting the BIHG conference in 2027 or 2028, or beyond, we would be very pleased to hear from you. Please also forward this message to any other potentially interested parties. Any enquiries should be made to me on G.L.Johnson@kent.ac.uk in the first instance.

Conference Page

Welcome to the British International History Group

The British International History Group (BIHG) was established in 1987. It aims to consider and promote established and new approaches to the study of international affairs as a discipline of history.

The primary focus of the BIHG is its annual conference, of which it has held over 30, mainly at UK universities. These gatherings foster the scholarship of postgraduates and early career researchers alongside the work of senior academics. With over 700 members from Asia, Europe and North America, the BIHG has global reach.

The BIHG is governed by an elected committee of historians at varied career stages and co-opted members from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the UK National Archives. It sponsors an annual thesis prize named in honour of Professor Mike Dockrill and offers career and research support for PGRs and ECRs. At its annual conference, it holds roundtables which explore disciplinary and interdisciplinary innovations. The BIHG also invites leading scholars as keynote speakers to consider new approaches to the study of the past and the relevance of international history to contemporary global concerns.

2025 Memorial Lecture Prof Michael & Saki Dockrill

We are pleased to announce that the date for the postponed Michael and Saki Dockrill Memorial Lecture has now been confirmed. Professor Richard Aldrich will present his paper on ‘Technology and the Changing Nature of Covert Action’ at the Safra Lecture Theatre in the Strand Campus, King’s College London, at 1800 on Thursday 11th June 2026. Attendance is in-person only, but registration is free.

Register Here

News & Events

News, Announcements and Call for Papers. If you have any news and wish to publicize it please email or tweet us at @BIHG.

'Politics, Power and Polemic: John Charmley and British Political and International History, 1815-1965.'

Venue: Bush House,
King’s College, London, Tuesday 19 May 2026.

2pm-6pm.

More Information Here
The event is FREE: although we do ask you to register so we can cater for refreshments. To do so, please email Prof Gaynor Johnson

Call for Papers for the BIHG PGR Online
Research Event
Wednesday 25th March

On Wednesday 25th March BIHG will be running an online research event from 1800 onwards, to give PGRs the opportunity to present their work. Each speaker will be asked to present for no more than ten minutes, before having comments and feedback from a discussant, who would offer advice and expertise from their area. This is an excellent opportunity to present in an informal setting, network with other PGRs and academics, and to get some early, external feedback on your thesis. If you would like to take part please send your name, institution, title and abstract (150 words maximum) to Louise.Kettle@nottingham.ac.uk by Friday 13th March. Please do also feel free to get in touch with Louise should you have any questions.

2025 BIHG Michael Dockrill Memorial Thesis Prize

Dr Chloe Mayoux from the LSE. Her thesis title is: 'A place inthe world: negotiating nuclear power and independence in Africa (1957-63)'. Chloë completed her PhD at LSE in 2024, under the supervision of Professor Matthew Jones and with Professor Piers Ludlow as her advisor. Chloë is now based at Harvard where she has taken the role of the Ernest May Fellow in History & Policy, International Security Program.

2025 British International History Group/International History Review article prize

The British International History Group is delighted to announce that the winner of the annual article prize, in collaboration with International History Review for 2025 is Dr Tia Culley. The title of her project is: 'Britain, the Commonwealth, and disabling NIEO demands (1975-1976)'.

BIHG thesis prize 2024

The BIHG is very pleased to announce that the winner of the Michael Dockrill Memorial Thesis Prize for 2024 has been awarded to Dr Johanne Marie Skov (Lancaster University) for: How to Land an Aircraft Deal: Western intra-Bloc Rivalry, Saudi Agency, and British Revival in the Cold War Middle East, 1979-1985. Dr Sjov was a student at the Lancaster University and her PhD research explored how Britain was able to compete with its Cold War allies, the United States and France, to win the Saudi Al Yamamah I arms deal of 1985, against all odds.