Biography
Born in Canada, after completing his schooling in Hanover, Germany, Alexander Clarkson studied Modern History at Balliol College, Oxford. After graduating in 2000, he went on to complete his doctorate at the University of Oxford in September 2006. He also taught for a year as a Lecturer in Modern History at New College, Oxford, before joining the German Department at King’s College in the summer of 2007.
Research Interests and PhD Supervision
- German politics
- Contemporary history
- Migration studies
The main focus of Alexander Clarkson’s research has been the relationship between immigrant communities and German political movements after 1945. He has also conducted research on the different ways in which war comics have shaped wider notions of ‘heroic’ military masculinity after 1945. His current project will examine the impact the emergence of immigrant and German sub-cultures, such as the Punk movement, Islamic religious networks or environmental groups, have had on political discourse on both the local and the national level in Germany after 1945.
Alexander welcomes applications for PhD topics related to any of his research interests.
Teaching
Alexander Clarkson’s teaching covers the history of Germany in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries as well as European integration. His modules partly focus on how social and cultural change in local communities affected political developments on the national level. Other key issues that are explored in his courses include the impact of mass immigration, the relationship between different forms of popular culture and ideological conflict and the continuing political debate over German national identity.
His modules for the Department of European & International Studies will help students to examine the increasing involvement of the European Union in issues involving citizenship, immigration and home affairs.
Undergraduate modules:
Postgraduate modules:
- 7AAOM006 European Politics, Strategy and Simulation Gaming
Expertise and public engagement