
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Cities and Decolonization
Anti-colonial Struggles, Urban Protest, and Global Solidarities in the Twentieth Century
Wadham College, University of Oxford
19/20 March 2026




The conference examines the role of cities as central and contested arenas of decolonization, one of the most significant historical processes of the twentieth century. Across seven thematic panels and a keynote lecture, the conference brings together contributions that analyse the diverse actors, sites, and tensions that shaped decolonization as a global and urban process. Particular attention is paid to the ways in which local struggles were connected to transnational dynamics and to the analysis of urban spaces as sites of resistance and solidarity.
Organised by Norman Aselmeyer (University of Oxford) and Eric Burton (University of Innsbruck). In co-operation with Wadham College, the Faculty of History at the University of Oxford, the Department of Contemporary History at the University of Innsbruck, and the Past and Present Society.
UPDATES
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A big thank you!
After two successful conference days on 19 and 20 March, the organisers would like to thank all participants for a fantastic conference and for the insightful conversations both inside and outside the conference rooms. We will keep everyone updated on the next steps.
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Conference programme online
We are pleased to announce the programme for the Cities and Decolonization conference, to be held on 19 and 20 March 2026. Please consult the “Programme” tab above for further details.
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