T. van Gaalen (Thomas) MA

Thomas van Gaalen's research interests include cultural and political history from below, postcolonial scholarship, labor history and social movement studies. As a PhD candidate at Radboud University (from 15 January 2023 - 15 January 2027), the Netherlands, he analyzes how early twentieth-century radicals who traversed the Caribbean region engaged with the framework of international solidarity to forge political alliances. Integrating digital methods and combining intersectional and materialist lenses, Thomas analyzes how historical actors translated utopian concepts and ideals of solidarity into implementable tactics of use amid locally particular conditions of subjugation and inequality. The project is supervised by prof. dr. Frank Mehring, dr. Harm Kaal and prof. dr. Jaap Verheul.

Thomas holds an MA in history. After his studies, he worked as a research assistant in the NWO Open Science Fund project "Once More, With Feeling. Replications in History," and as a researcher for the Boekmanstichting. He is also active as an illustrator and designer.