Professor of Modern History, Kingston University.
Overview
Professor of Modern History, Craig Phelan joined Kingston University in 2009 and is an expert in trade unionism. As well as teaching and researching this area, he is editor of the academic journal Labor History, and is available to discuss virtually any aspect of trade union development, historical or contemporary.
He is knowledgeable about trade unions and labour relations in Britain, Europe, the USA, or further afield, including Africa, India and China. He can discuss public or private sector unions, the impact of austerity on trade unions and industrial relations, or the possible future of trade unions.
Most recently he was quoted extensively around the world in media stories about the role of trade unions in the public sector strikes which took place in the UK in July 2011. He is currently working on a monograph on trade unionism in Francophone West Africa since 1945.
Research
Books:
Phelan, Craig, ed. (2011) Trade Unions in West Africa: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
Bern, Switzerland : Peter Lang. 288p. (Trade unions: past, present and future) ISSN (print) ISBN: 978-3-0343-0117-6
Phelan, Craig, ed. (2009) Trade unionism since 1945: towards a global history. Volume 1: Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East. 2 Bern, Switzerland : Peter Lang. 451p. (Trade unions: past, present and future) ISSN (print) 1662-7784 ISBN 9783039114108
Phelan, Craig, ed. (2009) Trade unionism since 1945: towards a global history. Volume 2. The Americas, Asia and Australia. 3 Bern, Switzerland : Peter Lang. 350p. (Trade unions: past, present and future) ISSN (print) 1662-7784 ISBN 9783039119509
Phelan, Craig, ed. (2007) Trade union revitalisation: trends and prospects in 34 countries. 4 Bern, Switzerland : Peter Lang. 585p. ISBN 9783039110094
Phelan, Craig, ed. (2006) The future of organised labour: global perspectives. 5 Bern, Switzerland : Peter Lang. 405p. ISBN 9783039113590
Recent articles and book chapters:
Phelan, C. (2012), 'Trade Unions, Democratic Waves, and Structural Adjustment: The Case of Francophone West Africa', Labor History 53:1 (forthcoming, February).
Phelan, C. (2011), 'India's Workers and the Global Labour Pool', Labor History 52: 4(forthcoming, December)
Phelan, C. (2011), 'West African Trade Unionism Past and Present', in C. Phelan, editor, Trade Unions in West Africa: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives (Oxford: Peter Lang), 1-22.
Phelan, C. (2009), 'Trade Unions and the European Union's Democratic Deficit', Labor History 50: 2 (May): 187-192.
Phelan, C. (2008), 'The Long Decline of US Trade Unionism', in C. Phelan, editor, Trade Unionism since 1945: Towards a World History (Oxford: Peter Lang), 311-339.
Phelan, C. (2007), 'Worldwide Trends and Prospects for Trade Union Revitalisation', in C. Phelan, editor, Trade Union Revitalisation: Trends and Prospects in 34 Countries(Oxford: Peter Lang), 11-38.
Phelan, C. (2006), 'Political Economy: Divergence and Convergence between the US and Europe', in John Baylis and Jon Roper, editors, The United States and Europe: Beyond the Neo-Conservative Divide? (London: Routledge), 175-92.
Phelan, C. (2006), 'The Future of Organised Labour', in Craig Phelan, editor, The Future of Organised Labour: Global Perspectives (Oxford: Peter Lang), 11-36.
Phelan, C. (2006), 'The Two Worlds of Skill, Capitalism and Welfare', Labor History 47: 3 (August).
Areas of expertise