Kathleen Commons
@kabcommons.bsky.social
Researching immigration control in 17C England, and what it tells us about citizenship now and then. Co-convenor @ihr.bsky.social Migration and Mobility Seminar. Co-Director, Room to Heal, trustee @afrilcharity.bsky.social, Abigail Housing.
Pinned
When is a refugee not a refugee? — Refugee History.
England’s ‘proud history’ of welcoming refugees is regularly invoked in contemporary debates about refugees in Britain. Public and academic histories of pre-modern migration to England support this no...
tinyurl.com
New post on refugeehistory.org: were there refugees in 16thC England? Answer: it's complicated - migrants and the state were in the process of negotiating a form of refugee protection, which helps us to complicate notions of Britain's "proud history of welcome": tinyurl.com/bdyevr4d
Our next @ihr.bsky.social Migration and Mobility Seminar will be on 25th November. We will be welcoming Ben Braber to present on depictions of immigrants in British media between 1841 and 2021 - sign up link here: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Depictions of immigrants in British newspapers between 1841 and 2021
www.history.ac.uk
November 10, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Our next @ihr.bsky.social Migration and Mobility Seminar will be on 25th November. We will be welcoming Ben Braber to present on depictions of immigrants in British media between 1841 and 2021 - sign up link here: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Kathleen Commons
New post on refugeehistory.org: were there refugees in 16thC England? Answer: it's complicated - migrants and the state were in the process of negotiating a form of refugee protection, which helps us to complicate notions of Britain's "proud history of welcome": tinyurl.com/bdyevr4d
When is a refugee not a refugee? — Refugee History.
England’s ‘proud history’ of welcoming refugees is regularly invoked in contemporary debates about refugees in Britain. Public and academic histories of pre-modern migration to England support this no...
tinyurl.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:08 AM
New post on refugeehistory.org: were there refugees in 16thC England? Answer: it's complicated - migrants and the state were in the process of negotiating a form of refugee protection, which helps us to complicate notions of Britain's "proud history of welcome": tinyurl.com/bdyevr4d
Great session of @ihr.bsky.social Migration and Mobility Seminar - fantastic paper from Anne Irfan on the displacement-immobility nexus and Palestinian refugees - and some great questions in the Q&A afterwards
October 29, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Great session of @ihr.bsky.social Migration and Mobility Seminar - fantastic paper from Anne Irfan on the displacement-immobility nexus and Palestinian refugees - and some great questions in the Q&A afterwards
New post on refugeehistory.org: were there refugees in 16thC England? Answer: it's complicated - migrants and the state were in the process of negotiating a form of refugee protection, which helps us to complicate notions of Britain's "proud history of welcome": tinyurl.com/bdyevr4d
When is a refugee not a refugee? — Refugee History.
England’s ‘proud history’ of welcoming refugees is regularly invoked in contemporary debates about refugees in Britain. Public and academic histories of pre-modern migration to England support this no...
tinyurl.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:08 AM
New post on refugeehistory.org: were there refugees in 16thC England? Answer: it's complicated - migrants and the state were in the process of negotiating a form of refugee protection, which helps us to complicate notions of Britain's "proud history of welcome": tinyurl.com/bdyevr4d
Quick bump for this - a great opportunity for PGRs and ECRs to share their research on migration and mobility!
📢 Reminder about our CFP for the Mobility and Migration Seminar in collaboration with @ihr.bsky.social!
Please see below for more information on the CFP, abstracts are due on 15th November! Please share widely!
Please see below for more information on the CFP, abstracts are due on 15th November! Please share widely!
📢 New Seminar Series!
We are thrilled to be working alongside @ihr.bsky.social on a brand new seminar series titled Migration and Mobility. We are coming together for a special edition of the seminar to showcase the work of PGRs and ECRs on migration and mobility history (1/3)
We are thrilled to be working alongside @ihr.bsky.social on a brand new seminar series titled Migration and Mobility. We are coming together for a special edition of the seminar to showcase the work of PGRs and ECRs on migration and mobility history (1/3)
October 22, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Quick bump for this - a great opportunity for PGRs and ECRs to share their research on migration and mobility!
Just over a week until the next Migration and Mobility Seminar - we will be hearing (online and in-person - for free!) from Anne Irfan on Structural displacement and enforced immobility: Palestinian refugee history in Gaza since 1948: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Structural displacement and enforced immobility: Palestinian refugee history in Gaza since 1948
www.history.ac.uk
October 17, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Just over a week until the next Migration and Mobility Seminar - we will be hearing (online and in-person - for free!) from Anne Irfan on Structural displacement and enforced immobility: Palestinian refugee history in Gaza since 1948: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Kathleen Commons
Astonished at all the fab work scholars keep producing, despite all pressures & uncertainty.
Or because of? Good & bad: trying to save our job & knowing this matters so much that people try to stop us
@historyworkshop.org.uk podcast on #ScholarSunday: www.historyworkshop.org.uk/podcast/chan...
Or because of? Good & bad: trying to save our job & knowing this matters so much that people try to stop us
@historyworkshop.org.uk podcast on #ScholarSunday: www.historyworkshop.org.uk/podcast/chan...
October 5, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Astonished at all the fab work scholars keep producing, despite all pressures & uncertainty.
Or because of? Good & bad: trying to save our job & knowing this matters so much that people try to stop us
@historyworkshop.org.uk podcast on #ScholarSunday: www.historyworkshop.org.uk/podcast/chan...
Or because of? Good & bad: trying to save our job & knowing this matters so much that people try to stop us
@historyworkshop.org.uk podcast on #ScholarSunday: www.historyworkshop.org.uk/podcast/chan...
It was brilliant to kick off the Migration and Mobility Seminar with great papers from @profpanayi.bsky.social @endeeekay.bsky.social @bengidley.bsky.social @marcloureiro.bsky.social - a lot to think about in terms of how we do migration history, especially in the current moment
This was a great first session. Looking forward to many more to follow.
Enjoyed first seminar of @ihr.bsky.social Migration + Mobility seminar series led by the fantastic @kabcommons.bsky.social, starring legend @profpanayi.bsky.social and great presentations by @endeeekay.bsky.social (see pic for book out soon w/ @punctumbooks.bsky.social) & @marcloureiro.bsky.social
October 1, 2025 at 6:52 AM
It was brilliant to kick off the Migration and Mobility Seminar with great papers from @profpanayi.bsky.social @endeeekay.bsky.social @bengidley.bsky.social @marcloureiro.bsky.social - a lot to think about in terms of how we do migration history, especially in the current moment
Such a privilege to be part of this amazing roundtable, organised by @onslies.bsky.social at @rshc.bsky.social. So pleased that the conversation can be shared more widely (less pleased about my wobbly voice)
How has paperwork served as a tool of empowerment for people who often find power elusive?
In our latest podcast, a group of historians, archivists, and activists met at the Raphael Samuel History Centre (@rshc.bsky.social) to discuss the hidden history of paperwork 🗃️🎙️
In our latest podcast, a group of historians, archivists, and activists met at the Raphael Samuel History Centre (@rshc.bsky.social) to discuss the hidden history of paperwork 🗃️🎙️
Changing The Record
How has paperwork served over time as a radical tool for empowerment and change?
www.historyworkshop.org.uk
September 30, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Such a privilege to be part of this amazing roundtable, organised by @onslies.bsky.social at @rshc.bsky.social. So pleased that the conversation can be shared more widely (less pleased about my wobbly voice)
On a personal and slightly self-aggrandizing note, will be pleased to introduce this banging lineup for the first time officially as *Dr* Commons. Many thanks to @earlymodernjohn.bsky.social and Phil Withington for examining me with such care, and Anthony Milton for being a superlative supervisor
reminder we’re kicking off tomorrow
5:30- 7:30pm Hybrid/IHR
@profpanayi.bsky.social & @kabcommons.bsky.social will open, then I’ll will speak on history & social studies; @marcloureiro.bsky.social on history & law; and Natalya Din-Kariuki on history & literature.
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
5:30- 7:30pm Hybrid/IHR
@profpanayi.bsky.social & @kabcommons.bsky.social will open, then I’ll will speak on history & social studies; @marcloureiro.bsky.social on history & law; and Natalya Din-Kariuki on history & literature.
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
September 29, 2025 at 4:15 PM
On a personal and slightly self-aggrandizing note, will be pleased to introduce this banging lineup for the first time officially as *Dr* Commons. Many thanks to @earlymodernjohn.bsky.social and Phil Withington for examining me with such care, and Anthony Milton for being a superlative supervisor
Reposted by Kathleen Commons
reminder we’re kicking off tomorrow
5:30- 7:30pm Hybrid/IHR
@profpanayi.bsky.social & @kabcommons.bsky.social will open, then I’ll will speak on history & social studies; @marcloureiro.bsky.social on history & law; and Natalya Din-Kariuki on history & literature.
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
5:30- 7:30pm Hybrid/IHR
@profpanayi.bsky.social & @kabcommons.bsky.social will open, then I’ll will speak on history & social studies; @marcloureiro.bsky.social on history & law; and Natalya Din-Kariuki on history & literature.
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
September 29, 2025 at 4:08 PM
reminder we’re kicking off tomorrow
5:30- 7:30pm Hybrid/IHR
@profpanayi.bsky.social & @kabcommons.bsky.social will open, then I’ll will speak on history & social studies; @marcloureiro.bsky.social on history & law; and Natalya Din-Kariuki on history & literature.
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
5:30- 7:30pm Hybrid/IHR
@profpanayi.bsky.social & @kabcommons.bsky.social will open, then I’ll will speak on history & social studies; @marcloureiro.bsky.social on history & law; and Natalya Din-Kariuki on history & literature.
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Call for Papers! @ihrhistorylab.bsky.social x @ihr.bsky.social Migration and Mobility Seminar special edition - we want papers on all types of migration and mobility history from ECRs and PGRs. Abstracts to kabcommons [@] gmail.com by 15th November. Pls spread the word & DM with any questions
September 24, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Call for Papers! @ihrhistorylab.bsky.social x @ihr.bsky.social Migration and Mobility Seminar special edition - we want papers on all types of migration and mobility history from ECRs and PGRs. Abstracts to kabcommons [@] gmail.com by 15th November. Pls spread the word & DM with any questions
Reposted by Kathleen Commons
Thousands of Londoners have indefinite leave to remain.
They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city.
Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable.
They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city.
Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable.
Farage vows to scrap indefinite leave to remain, placing thousands at risk of deportation
Reform UK plans to force non-citizens to apply for visas with high salary thresholds and no access to NHS services
www.theguardian.com
September 22, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Thousands of Londoners have indefinite leave to remain.
They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city.
Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable.
They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city.
Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable.
Reposted by Kathleen Commons
If you want to know what the UK government's position is on its obligations under the Genocide Convention in relation to its support for Israel, here's what it argued in court this summer.
September 16, 2025 at 8:39 AM
If you want to know what the UK government's position is on its obligations under the Genocide Convention in relation to its support for Israel, here's what it argued in court this summer.
Reposted by Kathleen Commons
A High Court Judge ruled that Home Office had no real oversight of their commercial agents who provide asylum-seeker accommodation. They have a tissue-thin layer of staff with no real idea what’s happening, scared that Ministers and the press will realise this.
Interesting to see where the HO chooses its FOI battles. Contrast this with the ease of the far-right person who made a request and was given a list of charities working on asylum accommodation issues - resulting in online harassment and "credible death threats": www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
September 13, 2025 at 10:31 AM
A High Court Judge ruled that Home Office had no real oversight of their commercial agents who provide asylum-seeker accommodation. They have a tissue-thin layer of staff with no real idea what’s happening, scared that Ministers and the press will realise this.
Suspending family reunion, one of the *only* safe routes into the UK, is barbaric www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Four dead, including two children, attempting to cross Channel to UK in last 24 hours
Number of attempts to cross Channel has been particularly high for several days, say French authorities
www.theguardian.com
September 10, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Suspending family reunion, one of the *only* safe routes into the UK, is barbaric www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Kathleen Commons
V pleased to have a new article in @huguenotsociety.bsky.social journal: tinyurl.com/e2zb9bfb. (A little🧵)
Contents | Huguenot Society Journal 38,
For several hundred years after the mid-sixteenth century, there were two exile or Stranger communities in Norwich, many of whose members were Calvinists who worked in the textile trade. This article investigates three aspects of the financial activities ...
tinyurl.com
September 8, 2025 at 4:18 PM
V pleased to have a new article in @huguenotsociety.bsky.social journal: tinyurl.com/e2zb9bfb. (A little🧵)
V pleased to have a new article in @huguenotsociety.bsky.social journal: tinyurl.com/e2zb9bfb. (A little🧵)
Contents | Huguenot Society Journal 38,
For several hundred years after the mid-sixteenth century, there were two exile or Stranger communities in Norwich, many of whose members were Calvinists who worked in the textile trade. This article investigates three aspects of the financial activities ...
tinyurl.com
September 8, 2025 at 4:18 PM
V pleased to have a new article in @huguenotsociety.bsky.social journal: tinyurl.com/e2zb9bfb. (A little🧵)
Reposted by Kathleen Commons
NEW: An Oxford report warns that misleading media coverage is shaping public debate on immigration and human rights.
The study finds the ECHR is frequently misreported in deportation cases, fueling misconceptions that erode trust in the legal system.
🧵 [1/8]
The study finds the ECHR is frequently misreported in deportation cases, fueling misconceptions that erode trust in the legal system.
🧵 [1/8]
September 4, 2025 at 10:59 AM
NEW: An Oxford report warns that misleading media coverage is shaping public debate on immigration and human rights.
The study finds the ECHR is frequently misreported in deportation cases, fueling misconceptions that erode trust in the legal system.
🧵 [1/8]
The study finds the ECHR is frequently misreported in deportation cases, fueling misconceptions that erode trust in the legal system.
🧵 [1/8]
The first term's programme for the IHR Migration and Mobility Seminar is now live! www.history.ac.uk/news-events/.... We're hybrid, so if you're interested in migration and mobility across space and time - but also in how we can write better histories of mobility - sign up from anywhere!
Migration and Mobility History
The IHR Migration and Mobility seminar provides a space for historians and scholars from other disciplines to come together to discuss migration and mobility in history.
www.history.ac.uk
September 5, 2025 at 1:27 PM
The first term's programme for the IHR Migration and Mobility Seminar is now live! www.history.ac.uk/news-events/.... We're hybrid, so if you're interested in migration and mobility across space and time - but also in how we can write better histories of mobility - sign up from anywhere!
The current policy excludes many refugees from family reunion, particularly those who arrive as children. One way to 'stop the boats" would be to *open up* family reunion, stopping separated, often orphaned siblings being driven to desperately dangerous and traumatising journeys in search of family
UK's family reunion route is already a farce which sees too many people denied ability to reach UK to seek asylum, including children.
Tightening it will only ensure even more, particularly women and children, are denied safety, and more families ripped apart. #r4todau
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Tightening it will only ensure even more, particularly women and children, are denied safety, and more families ripped apart. #r4todau
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Family reunion rules to be tightened in asylum cases
Yvette Cooper will outline her plans when MPs return to Parliament after the summer break.
www.bbc.com
September 1, 2025 at 6:48 AM
The current policy excludes many refugees from family reunion, particularly those who arrive as children. One way to 'stop the boats" would be to *open up* family reunion, stopping separated, often orphaned siblings being driven to desperately dangerous and traumatising journeys in search of family
Reposted by Kathleen Commons
📣🎉 We are pleased to announce 3 new IHR Seminar Series starting in September 2025.
• African History
• Migration & Mobility History
• Planetary History
Find out about the new series on the IHR website: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
• African History
• Migration & Mobility History
• Planetary History
Find out about the new series on the IHR website: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
August 5, 2025 at 9:16 AM
📣🎉 We are pleased to announce 3 new IHR Seminar Series starting in September 2025.
• African History
• Migration & Mobility History
• Planetary History
Find out about the new series on the IHR website: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
• African History
• Migration & Mobility History
• Planetary History
Find out about the new series on the IHR website: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
We have some really exciting plans coming up: a space to think more thoroughly about the intersection between migration studies and history: can migration studies help historians theorise migration history better? Can history help recover regimes of control and exclusion over the long (long) term?
A pleasure to have been involved in working towards this new Migration and Mobility history seminar launching in the Autumn and led by the brilliant @kabcommons.bsky.social. Keep your eye out as we have some ace events shaping up.
📣🎉 We are pleased to announce 3 new IHR Seminar Series starting in September 2025.
• African History
• Migration & Mobility History
• Planetary History
Find out about the new series on the IHR website: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
• African History
• Migration & Mobility History
• Planetary History
Find out about the new series on the IHR website: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
August 6, 2025 at 2:23 PM
We have some really exciting plans coming up: a space to think more thoroughly about the intersection between migration studies and history: can migration studies help historians theorise migration history better? Can history help recover regimes of control and exclusion over the long (long) term?
Reposted by Kathleen Commons
Good morning, I've written a piece about the prime minister. I spoke to several dozen sources, including government insiders, former legal colleagues and campaigners to ask: what happened to Keir Starmer the heroic human rights lawyer? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Starmer v Starmer: why is the former human rights lawyer so cautious about defending human rights?
The long read: Given his career as a human rights barrister, it was hoped Keir Starmer would be the PM to restore the UK’s commitment to international law. The reality tells a different story
www.theguardian.com
July 29, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Good morning, I've written a piece about the prime minister. I spoke to several dozen sources, including government insiders, former legal colleagues and campaigners to ask: what happened to Keir Starmer the heroic human rights lawyer? www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Kathleen Commons
(If you're a UK based historian, or just History-curious, and don't know about the IHR, you are missing a treat). Over 50 fortnightly seminars (most also available online) during the academic year, and much more. Visit the Institute and its library if you're in London. And it's free. 2/2
Institute of Historical Research
The Institute of Historical Research is the UK's national centre for history
www.history.ac.uk
July 18, 2025 at 10:27 AM
(If you're a UK based historian, or just History-curious, and don't know about the IHR, you are missing a treat). Over 50 fortnightly seminars (most also available online) during the academic year, and much more. Visit the Institute and its library if you're in London. And it's free. 2/2