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Professor, Department of History, University of Exeter
Professor Richard Toye’s research focuses on British and international political and economic history in the period since 1867. His books include The Labour Party and the Planned Economy, 1931-1951 (2003), Lloyd George and Churchill: Rivals for Greatness (2007) and Churchill’s Empire: The World That Made Him and the World He Made (2010). He has also published on topics ranging from UN thinking on economic development, to policy on North Sea oil and gas, to the writings of H.G. Wells. He is currently writing a book on Churchill's World War II speeches.
His research addresses the following broad themes:
- The relationship between rhetoric and political thought and action. How are ideas modified (or even created) by the need to articulate them in the public sphere? What is the relationship between communications technology and political discourse?
- Global political economy. How have modern political actors conceived the world, in imperial, European or internationalist terms? What part has rhetoric played in the development of policy on, for example, international trade?
- The link between economic and cultural history. How can we use rhetorical analysis to cast light on economic debates?
- Rhetorical cultures. How do practices surrounding public speaking affect the content of ideological messages?
