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Alan Lester

@alanlester.bsky.social

15K followers 6.7K following 1.6K posts

British Empire Professor, University of Sussex. Co-editor, MUP Studies in Imperialism series. Views here own. Blogs on politics of colonial history here: https://alanlester.co.uk Editor https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/the-truth-about-empire/ .. more

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Alan Lester is a British historical geographer and author who has worked for Sussex University since 2000. He was appointed Professor of Historical Geography in 2006. He is known for his research on imperial networks, colonial humanitarianism and imperial governance. .. more

Political science 40%

Sociology 34%

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · Apr 30

The podcast of David Olusoga and I discussing Empire & the rewriting of history:

howtoacademy.com/podcasts/dav...

HOW TO PODCAST | David Olusoga & Alan Lester - The Truth About the British Empire

David Olusoga and Alan Lester reveal the dark realities of the British Empire, and reflect on the importance of historians amid the resurgence of nationalism and misinformation.

howtoacademy.com

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 2d

As in East India Company?

www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt...

Slavery, Abolitionism and Empire in India, 1772–1843 on JSTOR

‘There are no two things in the world more different from each other than East-Indian and West Indian-slavery’ (Robert Inglis, House of Commons Debate, 1833). I...

www.jstor.org

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 2d

Its strange how, amidst calls to draw more attention to British suppression of slavery in the Indian Ocean & East Africa (and to focus less on British slavery in the Atlantic), this excellent study by Moses Nwulia (1975) is so neglected. Maybe to do with his ‘humanitarianism of self-interest’ idea?

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 3d

Brilliant analysis of Kemi Badenoch’s self-destructive addiction to culture war from @rafaelbehr.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Badenoch’s ‘thoughtful Conservatism’ turns out to be just the slower road to Faragism | Rafael Behr

The Tory leader’s intellectual meanderings have shrunk her party into little more than a holding pen for future Reform party candidates, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr

www.theguardian.com

Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 3d

2/2 CLR James urged the League of Nations to act against modern slavery as he called for reparative help for the Caribbean.
What, I wonder, has Philip Hensher done for those victims aside from using their plight as a bogus argument against reparations?

alanlester.co.uk/blog/the-ant...

The Anti-Reparations Bible

Alan Lester Promoting the Anti-Reparations Bible Britain’s right-wing press has mobilised to promote Nigel Biggar’s latest book, Reparations: Slavery and the Tyranny of Imaginary Guilt as the defin…

alanlester.co.uk

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Reposted by Vaughan S. Roberts

Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 3d

1/2 Actually, Philip & the Spectator, quite a lot. TF Buxton first argued for compensation to the enslaved before agreeing to pay it to slave owners instead. He founded what’s now Antislavery International.

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 3d

@channel4news.bsky.social reported David Norris’ belated confession of involvement in Stephen Lawrence’s racist murder immediately after highlighting that being openly, blatantly racist is no longer an impediment to an ambitious politician, but an asset. History is not progress.

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 3d

Robert Jenrick’s comments did not have “undertones of racism" as the local MP says in this clip. They were explicitly, unequivocally, racist. He equates a lack of integration with the absence of "a white face". If this not racist what is?

www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

Jenrick accused of racism over ‘no white faces’ comments as he also claims ‘collapse of old order is in sight’ – UK politics live

Labour mayor of the West Midlands says Jenrick’s comments about Handsworth were racist

www.theguardian.com

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 4d

I’m only just catching up with Sam Dalrymple talking about his innovative book Shattered Lands on Empire pod. Well worth a listen to understand the genesis of both South Asian & Middle Eastern geopolitics amidst the demise of British imperialism.

open.spotify.com/episode/0cmP...

Spotify – Web Player

open.spotify.com

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Reposted by Andrew Scott, Alan Lester

Alex Renton @axrenton.bsky.social · 4d

Thank you @alanlester.bsky.social for keeping eye on the mad, racist right-wing media so we don't have to.

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Reposted by Vaughan S. Roberts

Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 4d

Follow the money

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Asylum hotel provider makes £180m profit despite claims of inedible food and rationed loo paper

Asylum seekers and charities tell BBC of

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Alan Lester, Laurent Pech

Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 4d

More in the breathless, breaking stop-the-presses, and not at all confected story, that judges, before they were judges, were involved in practising law. Take 5 seconds to appreciate just how hard into "swivel-eyed loon" Robert Jenrick is being allowed to lean:

www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 4d

It’s amazing how Trump’s sole motivation for politics - extreme & childish narcissism- is now priced into global geopolitics. Commentators are linking his role in Gaza with his petulant insistence on a Nobel Peace Prize with just a shrug of the shoulders 🤷‍♀️

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Reposted by Vaughan S. Roberts

Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 5d

What a deeply problematic column from Lord Sewell in today’s @thetimes.com. Makes you wonder whether why those on the right are so unwilling to distinguish between objecting to a UN-recognised GENOCIDE and anti-semitism?

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 5d

Mason sees Islam as the only disruptive religious identity, prone to ‘radicalism’. Aren’t Christian nationalism imported from the US far right & a form of Zionism supporting a genocide unBritish too?

Chris Mason: Why protests have started a debate over 'Britishness' www.bbc.com/news/article...

Chris Mason: Why protests have started a debate over 'Britishness'

Against the backdrop of grief after the Manchester attack, there is debate about which tenets should be fundamental in our society, writes Chris Mason.

www.bbc.com

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 7d

Reactions to this horror fall into two categories. Those, including the terrorist himself, who frame opposition to the Israeli government’s genocide as hating Jews. And those, including many Jews, who insist on marking the difference.

www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...

Kemi Badenoch: Dial down rhetoric on Israel after synagogue attack

The Tory leader said Jews faced a ‘climate of fear and aggression’ as senior figures from the community lined up to criticise the government over antisemitism

www.thetimes.com

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 8d

If you have a moment could you send me a link please? Thanks

Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 8d

No but will take a look thanks Anna.

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Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Ramón López Facal

Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 8d

In the current issue of Ab Imperio: a defence of scholarly integrity against right wing historical propaganda:
Full text here:

alanlester.co.uk/blog/accusat...

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Reposted by Alan Lester

Huw C. Davies @huwcdavies.bsky.social · 8d

Dan, this is exactly what the hosts of Trigonometry believe too. I hope you were able to challenge them about this on their show? Really enjoy HH btw.

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 8d

Yes I mean Biggar’s and other arguments are intended to stop a conversation. Glad we agree one is needed. I’m not being hypocritical since I’m not arguing that any of us owe individual reparations. Both racist & anti-racist arguments have been pushed & held by a wide X section, not just elites.

Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 8d

You’re anticipating discussions that these arguments are designed to prevent. I wouldn’t be a stakeholder in them so I can’t answer your queries. And no I won’t be making personal reparations. Debt relief & assistance with climate change preparedness would be most likely form at state level.

Reposted by Andrew Scott, Andrekos Varnava

Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 8d

The @telegraphnews.bsky.social, @dailymail.co.uk and @thespectator1828.bsky.social have all promoted Nigel Biggar’s latest book as the definitive riposte to reparations claims. But what exactly are its arguments and how do they stand up to scrutiny?

alanlester.co.uk/blog/the-ant...

The Anti-Reparations Bible

alanlester.co.uk

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 9d

Lots of media discussion and condemnation of the racism & Islamophobia expressed by police in the Panorama documentary last night. Somewhat less reflection on the media’s role in legitimising precisely such views.

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 9d

Does the domestic MAGA cult know that Trump has backed his failing right wing populist ally in Argentina to the tune of $20 billion?

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Farage, Trump, Musk: your boy Javier Milei just took one hell of a beating. Why so quiet? | Aditya Chakrabortty

The wild politics and chainsaw made Argentina’s president an economic hero for the right. And now, with his nation’s finances in chaos: silence, writes Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty

www.theguardian.com

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 9d

Clearly stupid in the long term as climate change wreaks costly havoc, but also very stupid in the short term since high energy prices have been caused by reliance on imported fossil fuels.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Kemi Badenoch vows to repeal Climate Change Act

Tory leader says she would replace it with ‘cheap energy’ strategy, ending decades-long consensus on climate

www.theguardian.com

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 9d

www.theguardian.com/news/2025/oc...

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Reposted by Ben H. Ansell, Alan Lester

Dan Snow @thehistoryguy.bsky.social · 9d

The idea that someone can become British but never English is so agonisingly stupid that it makes me fear for the future of the species.

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 9d

This is a very concerning precedent. The MAGA movement has banned books while complaining about ‘woke’ cancel culture, and limited free speech as it claims to defend it in the USA. We must not let it happen here.

www.theguardian.com/education/20...

‘Bans are disheartening’: US author criticises Dorset school’s removal of her book about race

Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give was taken off year 10 reading list at Budmouth Academy after parent complained

www.theguardian.com

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Alan Lester @alanlester.bsky.social · 9d

So let me get this right, Nigel. Calling out your racist policy is taking free speech too far because it could, with a lot of twisting, be seen as incitement to violence. Someone calling for asylum seekers to be set alight & convicted of incitement to violence is a champion of free speech though?

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Reposted by Alan Lester

Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 10d

'Farage Boats' is a useful term and should be normalised.

Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 10d

“I would gently point out to Nigel Farage that before we left the EU we had a returns agreement with every country in the EU. He told the country it would make no difference if we left. He was wrong about that. These are Farage boats in many senses coming across the channel” 👏

PM Keir Starmer

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