Alanna O’Malley has recently been appointed as Professor of Global Governance and Wealth at the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC). Based in the Department of History, she brings a unique, historically informed perspective to the study of international relations, with a particular focus on inequality, decolonisation and gender. Having previously worked closely with international institutions such as the United Nations, O’Malley aims to deepen our understanding of global power dynamics by bridging past and present.
In this interview, she shares her insights on why history is crucial to addressing today’s global challenges- from climate change and migration to international conflict. She also reflects on her ambitions for teaching and research at Erasmus University Rotterdam, where she sees interdisciplinarity as key to tackling the major questions of our time.
What does it mean to you to be appointed as Professor of Global Governance and Wealth at Erasmus University Rotterdam?
I am delighted to begin this hugely significant appointment. A commitment to historical approaches to international relations has always been at the centre of my career and I am interested in the role of traditionally marginalised actors of the Global South and how they changed global order through the United Nations.
Erasmus University, with its global mindset and truly international environment will be a wonderful place in which to develop the varied histories of, and diverse disciplinary approaches to, global governance. Drawing on the University's proud reputation in economics, it’s an incredible opportunity to strengthen understandings of the important role wealth plays in this process.
You study inequality and global power relations through a historical lens. Why do you believe this perspective is crucial for understanding today’s global challenges, such as migration, climate change, or international conflict?
Understanding the historical context of current challenges is essential in order to formulate clear approaches and develop new perspectives on the problems confronting the international community. Often, analyses of major problems lack engagement with the historical roots of issues which often determine how they evolve over time. Without developing approaches to current affairs which are informed by history, it is very difficult to generate adequate and inclusive solutions. The struggle for global equality has been in fact the very purpose of multilateralism and attempts to govern the world and taking a historical approach allows us to understand the different perspectives, people and processes at the centre of this initiative.
Your chair brings together themes like decolonisation, inequality, gender, and global governance. How do you see the strength of this interdisciplinary approach reflected in your research?
Interdisciplinarity is very important in thinking globally about the 'big' questions because it offers different toolboxes to understand global challenges. The themes of my research inherently require an interdisciplinary approach to capture the scope at which these issues operate. One of the most attractive features about the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication is precisely its location at the crossroads of Social Sciences and Humanities which takes account of empirical and theoretical dimensions, so it’s an ideal place in which to develop this Chair.
"I hope to bring historical approaches and lesser-known histories to the fore in my research and teaching as part of this Chair."
Alanna O'Malley
You’ve worked and conducted research in international institutions, including the United Nations. How will this experience inform your work in Rotterdam?
I've had the privilege of sustained engagement with United Nations archives and institutions through my career. It has shown me that within every institution, there are contestations, struggles and structural challenges, even when everyone is united in the general purpose of these organisations. Being able to study the UN up close but also delve into its lesser-known histories has helped me to understand how institutions work, and how they may be harnessed to become as productive and efficient as possible.
What are your ambitions for this chair in the coming years, both in terms of research and teaching?
I hope to bring historical approaches and lesser-known histories to the fore in my research and teaching as part of this Chair. I will develop an agenda that encourages engagement among both colleagues and students with global history from different perspectives to connect across disciplines, issues and themes. I want to help to establish Erasmus University as a centre for the study of Global Governance from various perspectives.
What do you believe students – and perhaps a broader audience – should learn or reflect on when it comes to the history of inequality and international relations?
It’s important to understand that inequality has always been, in one form or another, at the root of all major conflicts of international relations. To build a more equitable and inclusive global order, we must understand the struggle against inequality in all its forms. Only then will we have a clear starting point to think about the decline of the liberal world order and alternative visions of the future.
