Francis H. Squire professor receives prestigious book award and delivers keynote in the UK

James M. Brophy, Francis H. Squire Professor of History at the University of Delaware, is an expert in modern European history, with a particular focus on 19th-century Germany, political culture, and the role of print and publishing in movements for democracy and dissent. His scholarship was recently recognized both nationally and internationally.

Keynote Address on Populism and Protest

Brophy began the fall semester by delivering the keynote address at the annual conference of the German History Society, held at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom. His talk, titled “Populism avant la lettre? Popular Protest in 19th Century Germany,” examined how grassroots resistance and political activism emerged long before the modern term “populism” was coined.

Brophy’s research sheds light on how working people, intellectuals and publishers helped shape public debate in an era of censorship and political repression.His keynote underscored the ways 19th-century German movements inform today’s understanding of populist politics and popular dissent. This kind of comparative historical insight helps connect past and present, offering lessons for contemporary democratic societies.

Prestigious Award for Scholarly Impact

On Sept. 19, 2025, Brophy received the 2025 Barclay Book Prize from the German Studies Association for his most recent monograph, Print Markets and Political Dissent: Publishers in Central Europe, 1800-1870 (Oxford University Press, 2024). The award recognizes the Association’s best book on 19th- and 20th-century German history and celebrates exceptional contributions to the field.

In Print Markets and Political Dissent, Brophy analyzes how publishers and print networks in Central Europe supported democratic ideals and opposition movements during a period of authoritarian rule. The book offers a fresh perspective on how the printed word empowered political resistance and shaped civil society.

Impact and Strategic Significance

Brophy’s achievements advance the Department of History’s commitment to rigorous, globally engaged research. His keynote brought University of Delaware scholarship to an international audience, while the Barclay Book Prize highlights the significance of his work in understanding freedom of expression and the circulation of ideas. Without such research, connections between historical dissent and modern democratic struggles would remain unexplored.