Thank you for visiting my blog. I am a Norwegian PhD Candidate in the Department of International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). My doctoral thesis ‘Civilisational Prestige’ and the Humanitarian Motives of British Policy in East Africa, 1867-1908 will explore the potential of construing the British presence in East Africa in terms of a humanitarian intervention and that the principal motive behind British policy was a concept I have termed ‘civilisational prestige’.
In 2010 I completed an MSc in the History of Empires at the LSE, focusing on imperial and economic history related to Africa, East Asia and empires in general. Prior to my current studies in London I performed a year’s military service as a Guardsman in His Majesty the King’s Guards, gained a BSc (Hons) Maritime Business with Maritime Law from the University of Plymouth and worked three years as a shipping analyst consulting primarily banks, shipowners and charterers about the dry bulk and tanker markets.
As my background might suggest, I have varied fields of interest but I find 19th and early 20th Century African imperial history especially engaging. I also find using quantitative data useful to illustrate past events and trends, I attempt to include at least one in all of my articles. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions related to the blog, sources or methodology at j.f.gjerso(at)lse.ac.uk and for more information please see my LinkedIn or Academia.edu profiles or follow me on twitter.
I hope you find my articles interesting and informative.
I am, &c.
Jonas Fossli Gjersø






