History of Welsh Internationalism

‘Peace monger’ David Davies of Llandinam was founder both of Wales’ Temple of Peace – home of WCIA today – and Aberystwyth University’s Department of International Politics. The ‘hidden histories’ of internationalist communities and civil society Wales-wide will be captured for academic posterity with this project to curate a new ‘History of Welsh Internationalism’.

Over 2020-23, WCIA are supporting a postgraduate (MPhil) research project on ‘History and Narratives of Welsh Internationalism‘, in partnership with Aberystwyth University’s Department of International Politics, Swansea University’s Department of History, and Academi Heddwch. The study is being undertaken by Craig Owen, WCIA’s Heritage Advisor, building on his work on the HLF-funded ‘Wales for Peace‘ programme (2015-20), and supporting international sector Welsh Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) over the last 20 years.

Craig’s research is being co-supervised by Dr Elin Royles in Aberystwyth (who specialises on ‘Wales in the World’ post-devolution civil society and internationalism) and Dr Tomas Irish in Swansea (who specialises in ‘Interwar Internationalisms and the League of Nations‘).

Key ambition of the project are to publish a series of articles and online references / case studies – for use among Welsh CSOs and heritage sector organisaitons, as well as students and academics – offering a synthesis of the ‘History of Welsh Internationalism’, exploring how Welsh people and Civil Society have contributed to international cooperation. The work is timely as Wales charts its path in the world into decades ahead in the aftermath of post-Brexit and post-COVID adaptations, with Welsh Government having launched (in Jan 2020) the nation’s first international strategy, the launch of ‘Academi Heddwch’ (Sept 2021), connecting internationalist academics of Wales and the world; and growing political questions around devolution across the 4 nations of the UK.

Anyone interested in connecting with this research can contact Craig at craigowen@wcia.org.uk or cro4@aber.ac.uk. His time is split between home-based research and writing, health treatment and Aberystwyth University / National Library, and ongoing work with Cardiff’s Temple of Peace.

Gain an insight into Craig’s research from his November 2021 talk to the Wales Africa Health Links Conference:

Direct Links to Research Features & Archives

Homes: Welsh Peace Heritage – Temple of Peace – Archives & Collections – Peacemakers Features – History of Welsh Internationalism Research – Peace Pathways & Themes – Peace100 WLNU Centenary – Women’s Peace Appeal Centenary – Wales’ International Development story – International Volunteering heritage – Hidden Histories volunteers’ Toolkit – Peace Schools – Town Twinning & Community Links – CND Cymru Archives – Wales for Peace learning – Peace Research, Policy & Practice

Research Features & Articles

Temple of Peace

Event Records

Organisational Collections / overviews

Thematic Overviews

WCIA Heritage Advisor Craig Owen leads this research, building on previous work with the Wales for Peace programme and experience of 20 years working in Wales' international sector civil society organisations.

Craig Owen, MPhil Postgraduate Researcher
View some of the feature articles published by Craig and his volunteers over the course of 2019-20 to date. These will be updated with deeper research for 'chapters' of the emerging work.

Peacemakers Features - articles on Wales' Internationalist Movements
This research is supported by WCIA's board of trustees, with the aim of building upon WCIA's considerable investment in Wales' Peace Heritage and the history of the Temple of Peace over the last decade.

Curating Wales' 'Peace Heritage' with WCIA and the Temple of Peace
Archive Collections and digitised resources from the records of the Welsh League of Nations Union (WLNU), 1920-1946

WLNU (1920-1940) Archive Links & Materials
Archive Collections and digitised resources from the records of the United Nations Association (UNA) Wales, 1946-1973. UNA continued work alongside the WCIA from 1973-2014, when the 2 organisations merged.

UNA Wales (1946-1973) Archive Links & Materials
Archive materials and digitised resources from the founding of WCIA in 1973, to 1996 under the leadership and team of Founder Bill Davies

WCIA (1973-1996) Archive Links & Materials
Archive Collections and digitised resources relating to post-devolution internationalism, Wales' Civil Society MDGs Task Force and development of the Wales for Africa programme

Post-Devolution WCIA & 'Wales for Africa', 1997-present

MDGs Task Force 2004-14

Town Twinning and Community Links
Launched by the Welsh Government from January 2020, the international strategy provides a framework into which Welsh Civil Society can contribute. WCIA's 'history of internationalism' work will draw together the overall story of this contribution past to present - with pointers for the future.

'International Strategy for Wales': Linking Future Thinking
'Internationalism' has many different political philosophies underpinning the perspectives of people championing Wales' links with the world.

Philosophies of Internationalism
Civil Society and community organisations - often referred to as the 'Third Sector' (alongside the 'State' and the 'Market') - have made up the fabric of Welsh society for generations, leading global activism long before devolution brought government resources to the table. WISERD have explored this role over time.

Wales' Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)
Links to multidisciplinary references relevant to Welsh Internationalism

Research Resources & References
The study will be exploring historic narratives of Welsh internationalism, drawing on 'frames analysis' approaches piloted by BOND over 2010-15 in understanding public perceptions of International Development

'Narratives' of Internationalism - framing our understanding of the world
In the aftermath of the First World War, Welsh communities took concerted action in the name of internationalism, peace and equality with an increasing frequency and commitment. In this Llafur online event, join us and our guests Craig Owen, Rob Laker, and Emma West, to explore these themes in an interwar context, from the Welsh Women’s Peace Petition of 1923, to the Peace Ballot of 1935 and the opening of the Temple of Peace in 1938.

‘To strive for a World of Justice’: Llafur Peace History Seminar, Oct 2020
This research project is one of the first to be coordinated through Academi Heddwch, Wales 'Peace Academy' network, launched from World Peace Day 2020 and facilitating collaboration between Civil Society and academic networks Wales-wide.

Academi Heddwch (Wales' Peace Institute)
This Postdraduate research project is being managed by Aberystwyth's Department of International Politics - founded in 1919 by David Davies (who also founded Wales' Temple of Peace, and the work of WCIA). The DDMI (David Davies Memorial Institute) is an integral part of Interpol today.

Aberystwyth University - International Politics
This project is being co-supervised with Swansea University's Department of History, to build in multidisciplinary perspectives and cross-institutional working alongside civil society. The research will contribute towards Swansea's work on League of Nations Histories.

Swansea University - History (Co-Supervision)
The project aims to capture for academic posterity the 'hidden histories' uncovered by WCIA's 2014-19 'Wales for Peace' programme with communities across Wales

Building on Hidden Histories uncovered by 'Wales for Peace' (2014-19)