Research and Publications
Dr Spohr Readman's main research interests lie in the International History of Germany since 1945, twentieth-century Baltic and Finnish history in the international context; post-Cold War security developments (esp. NATO).
Her published books include Germany and the Baltic problem after the Cold War: The development of a new Ostpolitik, 1989-2000 (London: Routledge, 2004); (ed.) Building Sustainable and Effective Capabilities: A Systemic Comparison of Professional and Conscript Forces (Amsterdam: IOS Press, 2004).
She has contributed chapters to a number of edited volumes. These include: adapted and shortened reprints of the CWH (2006) and JBS (2007) articles (listed below) in John Hiden, Vahur Made, David Smith (eds), The Baltic Question during the Cold War [Cold War History series] (London: Routledge, 2008). 'Memoranda', in Miriam Dobson and Benjamin Ziemann (eds), Reading Primary Sources: The Interpretation of Texts from Modern History (London: Routledge, 2008). 'Finland and the Baltic States, 1914-1945', in Robert Gerwarth (ed.), Twisted Paths: Europe, 1914-1945| (Oxford: OUP, 2007).
Dr Spohr-Readman has also written a number of scholarly articles: 'German Unification: Between official history, academic scholarship, and political memoirs', Historical Journal 43, 3 (2000); 'Naton laajentuminen 2002: "Kuka" ja "kuinka"?', Ulkopolitiikka 38, 4 (2001); ['Nato enlargement 2002: "Who" and "how"?', Journal of Foreign Affairs by the Finnish Institute of Intl. Affairs]; (with Ryan Hendrickson) 'From the Baltic to the Black sea: Bush's NATO enlargement', White House Studies 4, 3 (2004); 'Between political rhetoric and realpolitik calculations: Western diplomacy and Baltic struggle for independence in the Cold War Endgame', Cold War History 6, 1 (2006); 'National interests and the power of "language": West German diplomacy and the Conference on security and cooperation in Europe, 1972-1975', Journal of Strategic Studies 29, 6 (2006); 'The Baltic Question in West German politics, 1949-1990', Journal of Baltic Studies 39, 2 (2007); 'Speaking Truth to Power: Contemporary History in the Twenty-first Century'|, Journal of Contemporary History 46, 3 (2011); and 'Contemporary History in Europe: From Mastering National Pasts to the Future of Writing the World'|, Journal of Contemporary History 46, 3 (2011).
She was the recipient of a €30,000 NATO grant in the summer of 2003 for an Advanced Research Workshop (NATO Science Programme/NATO Public Diplomacy Division), A systemic comparison of professional and conscript forces, in December 2003 in Bratislava, Slovakia.
In 2008 she was awarded grants by the German Gerda Henkel Stiftung and the Journal of Contemporary History for a Joint LSE-King's College London conference entitled: 'At the Crossroads of Past and Present: "Contemporary" History and the Historical Discipline'| (22-23 May 2009), which she organised with Prof Jan Palmowski| of KCL. (See also: 'Contemporary History in the Spotlight'|)
Dr Spohr Readman gained her B.A. from the University of East Anglia - with a year abroad at Sciences Po, Paris - where she read European Studies, Economics, French, before moving on to study for her History M.Phil. and PhD. at Peterhouse, Cambridge. After completion of her PhD., she worked as a research fellow in the Private Office at NATO headquarters in Brussels. From September 2001 she was a Junior Research Fellow in History at Christ's College, Cambridge, until she joined the LSE in September 2004.
Her current research area is Bonn between Ost- and Westpolitik, 1969-1990 (incl. CSCE); International Law and Western non-recognition policies of Baltic annexation into the Soviet Union, 1945-1991; Britain, German unification and the end of the Cold War; theory and practice of Contemporary History.
Click here for more on publications by Dr Kristina Spohr Readman|.
Teaching and Supervision
Dr Spohr Readman's teaching at the LSE reflects the research interests outlined above. She usually teaches the following courses:
At undergraduate level:
HY116: International History since 1890| (taught jointly with other members of the Department)
HY206: The International History of the Cold War 1945-1975| (taught jointly with other members of the Department)
HY320: The Cold War Endgame, 1975-1991|
At Masters level:
HY432: From Cold Warriors to Peacemakers: The End of the Cold War Era, 1979-1997|
Dr Spohr Readman is currently supervising the following PhD students:
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Research Student
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Provisional Thesis Title
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Emma de Angelis
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The use and abuse of history in the European Community's quest for an identity
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Eirini Karamouzi
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Greece's path to EEC membership, 1975-81
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Rita Augestad-Knudsen
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The contemporary history of the right to self-determination, with implications from international statebuilding in Kosovo.
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Zhong Z.Chen
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Between political pragmatism and Moscow's watchful eye: East German-Chinese relations in the 1980s
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Research Student
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Thesis Title (Viva Passed Date)
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Elizabeth J. Benning
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Economic Power and Political Leadership:The Federal Republic, the West and the Re- shaping of the International Economic System,1972-1976 (26 May 2011)
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Contact details
Office: Room EAS.E507
Telephone: 020 7955 7103
Email Address: k.spohr-readman@lse.ac.uk|
Office Hours
Currently Tuesdays, 16:15-17:15 or by appointment