Globalising Welsh Studies

Placing Wales in the world locates the nation “ and understandings of the nation “ within its broader, global interconnections. This remarkable volume draws attention to the place of Wales within the overseas colonial project and examines the legacies of those colonial connections back home. The range of excellent contributions address issues of labour migration, devolution, race equality, the challenges of heritage work, as well as the ongoing processes of social and cultural change within Wales. This is a superb opener for a series that will ground scholarly work on Wales in the context of its diverse histories and histories of diversity. -- Gurminder K. Bhambra, University of Sussex, co-author of Colonialism and Modern Social Theory (2021)
This original and important new book asks searching questions about the relationship between a small non-state people and the empire in which they live and to which they contribute. That relationship is examined in the light of attempts to decolonise our understanding of both past and present, and to develop fresh approaches to social, cultural and political life. Taken together, the chapters in this book shed new light on historical encounters between Wales and the wider world, and illuminate the complexities of how race inflects present-day heritage and culture and the power dynamics of racial positioning. This is an essential contribution to understanding modern Wales in its full diversity, and the editors are to be applauded for assembling a group of writers and their stimulating contributions to the field. -- Paul O'Leary, Emeritus Professor of Welsh History, Aberystwyth University
Setting out the global context of Welsh studies is an essential and important precursor to understanding Waless journey to become an inclusive and antiracist nation. This volume of essays sets out the journey in an instructive and insightful manner within a global framework. As a pioneering collection, it broadens the horizons of Welsh Studies by linking local histories with transnational dynamics, and by reshaping our perceptions of Wales through the lenses of race, nationality and ethnicity. It offers an innovative approach, bridging disciplines and pushing the boundaries of scholarship on Waless diverse heritage and its rightful place as a trailblazing nation on inclusion worldwide. Within series, the volume is an excellent introduction to the redefining of Welsh identity by exploring its diverse and multicultural heritage, amplifying the narrative about the concept of belonging. It is a must read for anyone who seeks to understand our journey to inclusion and integration here in Wales. -- Professor Uzo Iwobi CBE, Chief Executive Race Council Cymru