Peter Paul Catterall

Biography

After a history degree at Cambridge (1984) I undertook my doctoral thesis on religion and politics in inter-war Britain at Queen Mary, completing in 1989. I then spent a year as a research fellow at the Institute of Contemporary British History, writing an award-winning bibliography of post-war Britain. From 1989 until 1999 I was Director of this Institute. In 1999-2000 I was on a Fulbright as visiting professor of British history at Westminster College, Fulton Missouri. On my return to the UK I taught history and politics at Queen Mary University of London until my appointment as Reader in History at Westminster in October 2012. Since August 2013 I have also been Faculty International Director for the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at Westminster. My interests are wide-ranging. I founded the journal National Identities, and my focus upon the history of the relationship between identities, ideas and political culture is reflected in my research, the PhDs I have supervised and my work with think tanks like the Hansard Society (for whom I teach a course on Public Policy) and the Centre for Opposition Studies. Through the latter I have been involved in research projects looking at democratisation and conflict resolution in the Middle East. I also have an interest in public history, serving as a trustee for two heritage organisations and, since 2011, on the London Historic Environments Forum.

Education

BA in History, Robinson College Cambridge (1984)
PhD in History, Queen Mary University of London (1989)

Areas of Research / Professional Expertise

My principal interest is in the relationship between political and religious ideas, institutions and political culture. This has produced a wide body of work over the years in a variety of disciplines on everything from the history of international relations to constitutional theory.

Personal Interests

I enjoy fringe theatre, art exhibitions, most forms of music, reading, good conversation and cricket.

Books