Research at the School of History, Law and Social Sciences

This theme explores concepts of power, governance, legitimacy, and trust, investigating how these impact equality, rights and justice. This encompasses a breadth of research areas, such as crime, policing and the criminal justice system, access to justice, legal and human rights, social movements and governance in modern Britain. It also includes historical perspectives that contribute to the understanding of contemporary challenges, such as empire, colonialism, and historic rule in England and Wales. 

This theme concerns how individuals perceive themselves and relate to their surroundings, including built and natural environments. It brings together existing areas of research strength, such as national and community identities, particularly Welsh socio-cultural histories and identities, racialised groups and radicalisation, and applied psychoanalysis. The theme also explores the importance of accessible archaeology and the legal protection of both cultural heritage and the natural environment. Collaborative research under this theme includes cultural heritage and climate change, and developing innovative approaches to analyse historic landscape use over time.