Professor Kenneth Morrison

Kenneth Morrison is Professor of History (Chair in Modern Southeast European History), Research and Innovation Director (Global Challenges and Cultures) and UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Fellow at De Montfort University, Leicester. He was a Research Associate and Visiting Professor at the European Institute at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). An established specialist on the Western Balkans, he is the author of several books focusing on the modern history of the region, including ‘Nationalism, Identity and Statehood in Post-Yugoslav Montenegro’ (2018), ‘Sarajevo’s Holiday Inn: On the Frontline of Politics and War’ (2016) and ‘Montenegro: A Modern History (2009). He is the co-author of ‘Reporting the Siege of Sarajevo’ (2021) and ‘The Sandžak: A History’ (2013). Kenneth has also written extensively for media internationally and in the Western Balkans, and for numerous think-tanks in the region. His latest book, a study of Montenegrin-Serbian relations since 1992 (co-authored with Professor Vesko Garčević of the University of Boston, US) will be published in January 2025. 

 

A second strand of Kenneth's research, focusing on the role and function of hotels in the context of urban conflict has also been developed through extensive research which underpinned an eight-part documentary series for Al Jazeera entitled ‘War Hotels’ and a book of the same name. Following this work, Kenneth co-founded the Hotel History Foundation and in February 2024 was recognised by the Hotel Europe Group for his 'significant and outstanding contribution to the preservation and promotion of the history, culture and Olympic heritage of the Hotel Holiday' (a hotel he has written extensively about). 

Kenneth has taught Yugoslav and post-Yugoslav history at University College London (UCL), the University of London and De Montfort University, has won numerous prizes for teaching excellence and has given lectures on his research in universities in the Europe, the US and the Western Balkans. Beyond his academic work,  he is the Co-Director of the Hotel History Foundation (HHF), based in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina and a historical consultant to the History Museum of Bosnia & Herzegovina, primarily as an advisor on the reconstruction and redesign of the permanent ‘Besieged Sarajevo’ exhibition. Kenneth is a trustee of both Most Mira (Bridge of Peace), a Bosnian peacebuilding charity, and the British Scholarship Trust, which funds research trips to the UK for PhD students from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.   

He has extensive experience of working with UK government agencies and international organisations on Western Balkan projects. He has previously worked as a Specialist Adviser on the Western Balkans to the House of Lords International Relations Committee and has been engaged as an external research analyst for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FDCO), an external lecturer for the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) and as an expert reviewer for the Organisation for Cooperation and Security in Europe (OSCE) and Freedom House, among others. 

Kenneth's work aligns closely to the UN Sustainable Develoment Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), for which DMU is a UN Academic Impact Hub, and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). As Research Theme Director, the played a major role in creating the  UN SGG Hub space.  He chaired the University Professoriate between 2021 and 2023, having previously been the Chair of the Art, Design and Humanities Professoriate. 

• Research and Innovation Director (Institute of Global Challenges and Cultures), De Montfort University, UK.
• Research Theme Director (Peace, Equality and Social Justice), De Montfort University, UK (2021-24).
• Deputy Director of the Institute of History, De Montfort University, UK (2019-24). 
• Research Associate, LSEE, European Institute, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). 
• Member of the AHRC 'Peace and Conflict Culture Network', London, UK.  

View a full listing of Kenneth Morrison's publications and outputs.

Montenegro and Serbia since 2006: A Velvet Divorce? (with Vesko Garčević), Bloomsbury, London, 2025.

40: An Anniversary of the Hotel Holiday (with Lejla Kreševljaković, Anida Krečo & Boba Lizdek), HHF, Sarajevo, 2024.

The Orthodox Church, Montenegro and the Serbian World (with Vesko Garčević), Atlantic Initiative, Sarajevo, 2023. 

War Hotels (with Abdallah El Binni), Merrion Press/Irish Academic Press, Dublin, 2022.

Reporting the Siege of Sarajevo (with Paul Lowe), Bloomsbury, London, 2021.

Kenneth Morrison, ‘The June Events: The 1968 Student Demonstrations in Yugoslavia’, in Matthew Stibbe & Kevin McDermott (eds.) The Prague Spring after Fifty Years: A Reassessment, Palgrave MacMillan, London, 2018.

Kenneth Morrison ‘Change, Continuity and Political Crisis in Post-Socialist Montenegro’, Sudost Europa, Munich, 2018. 

Kenneth Morrison, Nationlism, Statehood and Identity in Post-Yugoslav Montenegro (Bloomsbury, 2018)

Kenneth Morrison, Sarajevo's Holiday Inn: On the Frontline of Politics and War (Palgrave MacMillan, 2016)

Kenneth Morrison, ‘The Trajectory and Parameters of Democratic Transition in Montenegro, 2006 – 2014’, in Sabrina Ramet (ed.), Building Democracy in the Western Balkans (Cambridge University Press, 2016).

Kenneth Morrison, ‘Ethnic Minority Parties in Montenegro: From Marginalisation to Integration’, in Marko Valenta & Sabrina Ramet (eds.), Ethnic Minority Parties in Eastern Europe (Cambridge University Press, 2015).   

Kenneth Morrison, ‘The Political Characteristics of Intra-Orthodox Conflict in Montenegro’ (with Nebojša Čagorović) in Gorana Ognjenović (ed.), The Politicisation of Religion: A Case Study of Yugoslavia and its Successor States (Palgrave MacMillan, 2014).

‘The Orthodox Churches in Macedonia and Montenegro: A Comparative Analysis’ (with Aleksander Zdravkovski) in Sabrina Ramet (ed.) Religion and Politics in Central and Southeast Europe Since 1989: Controversies, Conflict, Change (Palgrave MacMillan, 2013). 

Kenneth Morrison & Elizabeth Roberts, The Sandžak: A History (Hurst & Co./Oxford University Press, 2013)    

Kenneth Morrison, ‘Montenegro: A Polity in Flux 1989 - 2000’, in Ingrao & Emmert (eds.), Confronting the Yugoslav Controversies: A Scholar’s Initiative (Purdue University Press, 2012). 

Kenneth Morrison, Montenegro: A Modern History (IB Tauris, 2009)

Kenneth Morrison, Change, Continuity and Consolidation: Assessing Five Years of Montenegro’s Independence (London School of Economics, LSEE Papers) 

Kenneth Morrison, The Criminal State Symbiosis and the Yugoslav Wars of Succession, in Colas & Mabee, ‘Mercenaries, Pirates, Bandits and Empires (Hurst & Co., 2010) 

Kenneth Morrison, The Political Life of Milo Djukanović, Sudosteuropa, Sudost Institut, Munich, 2009) 

Kenneth's research specialisms align closely to UN Sustainable Develoment Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), for which DMU is a UN Academic Impact Hub. The main focus of his research is: Modern Southeast European History, Nationalism, Ethnic Conflict, Peacebuilding, the Role and Function of Hospitality in Wartime.  

20th Century European history; Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict; The Cold War; The History of Yugoslavia and its successor states (with an emphasis on Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia, particularly the Sandžak region). 

• PhD, History and Area Studies (University of Stirling) 
• MA (Hons.), Politics and International Relations (University of Aberdeen)

History BA (Hons)

• Yugoslavia and Beyond (HIST 3009)
• The Cold War (HIST 2041)

• Winner of the DMU Prize for Research-Engaged Teaching, July 2021. 
• Shortlisted for the Times Higher Award (Research Project of the Year: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences), November 2018
• Winner of the DMU Oscars Award for Outstanding Contribution to Research Excellence, October 2018
• Winner of the Research Excellence Award, Faculty of Art, Design and Humanities, DMU, October 2018.  
• Winner of the Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Prize, DMU, June 2014
• Winner of the Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Prize, DMU, June 2011
• Winner of the Trevor Thomas Prize for Teaching Excellence (UCL-SSEES), May 2007

Trustee of the British Scholarship Trust for Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, London, UK.

Trustee of Most Mira (Bridge of Peace), UK and Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Historical Consultant to the History Museum of Bosnia & Herzegovina, Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina. 

Historical Consultant to the 'Unconqured: Goražde - City of Heroes' project, Studio 9 Films, London, UK. 

Member of the Organising Committee for the 'Why Remember?' annual international conference in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina.

 

Co-Director of the Hotel History Foundation, Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Trustee of Most Mira and former Member of the Academic Board (Bridge of Peace), UK and Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Member of the AHRC 'Peace and Conflict Culture Network', London, UK.  

Co-Chair of the Montenegro-UK Society, London, UK.  

 Kenneth is currently working on two major research projects:

A co-authored book (with Professor Vesko Vesko Garčević) focusing on bilateral relations between Montenegro and Serbia since 2006. 

An International Science Partnerships Fund project in conjunction with the Historical Museum of Bosnia & Herzegovina, which will result in a book documenting the history of that institution. It is scheduled to be published to align with the museum's 80th anniversary in 2025. 

 

Kenneth has served as a Specialist Adviser to the House of Lords International Relations Committee for their 'UK and the Western Balkans' inquiry. Hev advised the Committee during the evidence gathering phase and the writing of the report, 'The UK and the Future of the Western Balkans', which was published in January 2018. He has been regularly engaged as an external expert by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) since 2005. He has also conducted consultancy for the UK Serious Fraud Office, NATO, OSCE, Freedom House and the UK Embassy in Montenegro, among others.

• Kenneth supervises PhDs on a range of topics related to his research specialisms. Currently he supervises: 
• Jane Drapkin (Managing Risk, Resisting Pressure and Preventing Identity Based Violence: The case of Tuzla in wartime Bosnia & Herzegovina).
• Bozena Miljić (Rock Music in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia).
• Nejra Veljan (Geopolitical Shifts, the OHR and the Peace Implementation Council in Bosnia & Herzegovina).
• Angelina Nevzorova (The Hospitality Sector in Wartime Ukraine).
• Fred Mear (the Strengthening of Financial Governance in Post-Conflict/Fragile States).  

Specialist Adviser to the House of Lords International Relations Committee (UK and the Western Balkans inquiry), 2017/18.

Visiting Professor, European Institure, London School of Econmics and Political Science, 2019. 

Peer reviewer for the following journals: Journal of Southern Europe and the Balkans, Nations and Nationalism, Nationalities Papers, East European Politics and Societies, Europe-Asia Studies, South East European Review, Sudöst Europa, the Journal of Southeast European and Black Sea Studies, and Democratization and Citizenship Studies.

Peer reviewer for the following publishers: Hurst & Co., Bloomsbury Press, Palgrave MacMillan, Routledge, Purdue University Press, University of Georgia Press, Istros Books, Cambridge University Press and Oxford University Press.

Concuted peer reviews for the following research councils: Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland

Visitng Senior Fellow at the European Institute at the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2011/12.  

Kenneth has given lectures in Norway, the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Bosnia & Herzegovina, as well as many universities in the UK (Oxford University, the London School of Economics, University College London, the University of Birmingham, the University of East Anglia) and organisations such as the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), NATO, the House of Lords, the Ministry of Defence, the Embassy of the European Union in the UK, the Frontline Club (London) and the Royal Geographical Society and the Olympic Museum in Sarajevo. 

 

Kenneth has worked for numerous news agencies on topics, primarily related to the politics and history of the Balkans for both print and electronic media in the UK, US and Europe. These include Channel Four News, BBC News Online, BBC World Service, BBC Radio Four, BBC Serbian Service, BBC Scotland and BBC Radio Wales, BBC ‘East Midlands Today’, BBC Radio Leicester, The Economist, The Guardian, The Times, The Scotsman, the Independent, Associated Press, CNN, NBC News, PBS and MSNBC, N1 (CNN Balkans), Al Jazeera Balkans, Radio Free Europe, Al Jazeera English, TRT-World, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Balkan Insight, Gradska TV, Transitions Online and Southeast European Times. He has also given interviews for newspapers in Serbia (Politika, Vreme, Danas, Svedok), Montenegro (Vijesti and Monitor), North Macedonia (Nova Makedonija) and Bosnia & Herzegovina (Oslobodjenje). Kenneth contributed to the 80th Anniversary edition of Oslobodjenje and wrote a series of eight articles on War Hotels for them throughout 2023.