Mano Delea (LLB; MSc, Political Science, International Relations; PhD, History, University of Amsterdam, 2019) is a Lecturer in Modern - and Dutch history in the Department of History, European Studies and Religious Studies at the University of Amsterdam. Before joining the University of Amsterdam, he was a Lecturer at the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication, a Teacher in American Studies at Radboud University, and a Visiting Lecturer at Utrecht University. He was Programme Officer for the Forest Peoples Programme in Suriname and French Guiana, where he worked on human – and land rights cases. From 2014 to 2021, he was Programme Director of the Black Europe Summer School and in the spring of 2024 he was a Visiting Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley. Within the History Capacity Group, he is the Chair of the BA Programme Committee (OC) and he teaches in the BA and MA programs. 

Imperialism and emancipation

Delea’s research focuses on social movements and transformations in historical trajectories of emancipation and the history of imperialism and anti-imperialism, which he analyses from the perspective of sovereignty and power relations. His PhD research examined the collective memory of Atlantic chattel slavery and its implications on Pan-Africanism and knowledge production. He worked on a research report published in 2020 titled – Why Freedom Could Not Wait - as part of a research group at the National Institute for the Study of Dutch Slavery and its Legacy (NiNsee). The research examined the Dutch debate of 1862 on the abolition of slavery. It includes a discourse analysis on which parliamentarians were in favour of abolition and which were against it and why. His first monograph titled Pan-Africanism: Visions, Initiatives, and Transformations was published by Lexington Books in 2024. Delea is currently working on two research projects; one on the legacy of Dutch trans-Atlantic slavery and one on anti-imperialism with a focus on the Global South.

Current project: Tracing Discourses on Dutch Abolition of Slavery: Two Dissonant Voices Refuting the Apprenticeship System and Compensation (NWO Open Competition SSH XS)

This project highlights two dissonant voices during the 1862 Dutch parliamentary debate on the abolition of trans-Atlantic slavery, centred upon four components: abolition, compensation, apprenticeship system, and indentured labour. Heemskerk Azn. opposed apprenticeship and Elout van Soeterwoude compensation. By examining the contributions of these two parliamentarians and their arguments during this particular debate, this research shows their engagement with a much wider debate on ending slavery, as expressed by British and French abolitionists. Given this wider debate, the goal is to go beyond present research into Dutch abolitionism, grounded in local interests and discussions, revealing a much broader, transnational discourse.

Current project: Anti-Imperialism since the 1870s with a Focus on the Global South

I am working on an edited volume on anti-imperialism. The book provides a historical, theoretical, practical, ideological, economic and political overview of anti-imperialism in the era of high or new imperialism. It makes an invaluable contribution to the academic field that covers imperialism and anti-imperialism with contemporary research on theories and practices, with a specific focus on the Global South. It features historical context, ideas, theoretical insights, and critical explorations of practices of anti-imperialism and imperialism from a variety of scholars. It will be an indispensable source for undergraduate and graduate students and scholars with research interests in the history of ‘new imperialism’ as it emerged after the 1870s, how it transformed, and how it relates to historical and contemporary changes regarding the world economy and global political order. The book is expected to be published in 2028.

Current courses

Inleiding in de Geschiedschrijving (FGw, BA) (Introduction to Historiography)

UvA Grand Tour (FGw, BA, MA)

Zorgen voor het Zelf. Groep en individu in the tweede millenium na Christus (ca. 1000-2000) (Caring for the Self: groups and individuals in the 2nd millenium AD) (FGw, MA)

Scriptiebegeleiding (FGw, MA) (MA Thesis supervision)

Previously taught courses

Wereldgeschiedenis (FGw, BA) (World History)

Historische Dilemma’s (FGw, BA) (Historical Dilemmas)

Onderzoeksseminar (FGw, BA) (Research Seminar)

Geschiedenislab II (FGw, BA) (History Lab II)