Staff profile

Born and brought up in Yorkshire, I completed my first degree and PhD in Geography at Loughborough University, then worked as a Lecturer in Geography at University of Wales, Swansea and Birmingham University before moving to Durham in 2003. I have held a number of leadership roles at Durham University, including Head of Department of Geography and Director of the ESRC Northern Ireland & Northeast Doctoral Training Partnership. I am currently a member of the University Council.

My research interests are focused around the intersections between cultural, political and environmental geographies. At a conceptual level, my work has sought to explore the productive tensions between postcolonial and other radical approaches within geography. These theoretical concerns are also grounded in empirical research (currently in South Africa, New Zealand, India and the UK).

My current resarch, funded by the Leverhulme Trust, builds on previous plant-related research to advance new ways of thinking about and with plants categorised as weeds. It does this through three innovative interventions: a migrant ecology that rethinks 'invasive weeds' by tracing their histories and geographies; a decolonial ecology that engages with traditional knowledges in origin places to learn about and revalue 'invasive weeds'; a multispecies geography that documents entanglements of weeds with other species in the context of accelerating climate change. The research focuses on three plants classified as 'invasive weeds' in the UK: Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), introduced from the Himalayan foothills of India; Hottentot fig (Carpobrotus edulis), introduced from the Western Cape of South Africa; and Pirri-pirri-bur (Acaena novae-zelandiae), brought on sheep fleeces from coastal New Zealand. The project uses interdisciplinary methods to examine three issues. First, the histories of colonialism and migration that first brought these plants to the UK and what their abundance is signalling about the health of nearby ecosystems. Second, how mainstream narratives influence human-plant relationships in the UK and what new ecologies 'invasive weeds' are creating. Third, the multispecies relationships these plants have in their places of origin. The research responds to the overrepresentation of 'invasive weeds' in destructive ecological approaches, the deepening understanding of colonial histories in contemporary environmental crises and reconciling with the legacies of colonialism, and the need for more sustainable and climate-resilient human-plant relationships.

My previous research, funded by ESRC, GCRF, Leverhulme Trust, EPSRC, British Academy, and Nuffield Trust, has explored a range of issues including consumption ethics in the global South; ethical production, cultural economy and politics of place in rural South Africa; and citizenship, democracy and transformation in South Africa. Much of this research has been collaborative, with some impact on policy. For example, ESRC-funded work with the Flower Valley Conservation Trust on sustainable wildflower harvesting in South Africa's threatened fynbos biome provided key components of the Sustainable Harvesting Programme, which is now embedded in the Western Cape Government Department Business Plan to create a Sustainable Flower Harvesting Assurance System. Running through all my research is an interest in the significance of postcolonial theory and decolonial politcs within the discipline of geography. This is explored in my book Postcolonialism, Decoloniality and Development (Routledge 2019).

I have a deep commitment to developing strategies for advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. I teach on the Geography undergraduate and master's programmes. Over the years, I have supervised over 40 postgraduate researchers, many of whom now have academic positions. I welcome enquiries from prospective researchers, particularly those with interests concerning postcolonial and decolonial approaches to cultural, political, and environmental issues. I am a Trustee of the Ruth First Educational Trust at Durham University. In my spare time I may be spotted on long distance runs or bike rides in the hills of Northumberland and County Durham.

• Alternative economies and ethical trade
• Citizenship and transformation
• Cultural, political and environmental geographies
• Feminist and postcolonial theory
• Memory and social justice
• Postcolonialism and decoloniality
• Qualitative methods

Authored book

• Postcolonialism, Decoloniality and Development
  
  McEwan, C. (2019). Postcolonialism, Decoloniality and Development. Routledge.
• Postcolonialism and Development.
  
  McEwan, C. (2009). Postcolonialism and Development. Routledge.
• Gender, Geography and Empire: Victorian Women Travellers in Africa
  
  McEwan, C. (2000). Gender, Geography and Empire: Victorian Women Travellers in Africa. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315191799

Chapter in book

• Why ‘place’ matters in the development and impacts of Fairtrade production
  
  McEwan, C., Hughes, A., Bek, D., & Rosenberg, Z. (2017). Why ‘place’ matters in the development and impacts of Fairtrade production. In V. Nelson (Ed.), Fairtrade impacts : lessons from around the world. (pp. 29-44). Practical Action Publishing. https://doi.org/10.3362/9781780449067.003
• Using Art to Fight HIV/AIDS in Uganda
  
  Nabulime, L., & McEwan, C. (2016). Using Art to Fight HIV/AIDS in Uganda. In P. Stupples & K. Teaiwa (Eds.), Contemporary perspectives in art and international development. (pp. 151-164). Routledge.
• Geography, Culture and Global Change
  
  McEwan, C., & Daya, S. (2016). Geography, Culture and Global Change. In P. Daniels, M. Bradshaw, D. Shaw, J. Sidaway, & T. Hall (Eds.), An introduction to human geography. (pp. 273-289). Pearson.
• Mary Kingsley.
  
  McEwan, C. (2012). Mary Kingsley. In H. Gates & E. Akyeampong (Eds.), Dictionary of African Biography. OUP.
• The South African wine industry: meeting the challenges of structural and social transformation.
  
  McEwan, C., Bek, D., & Binns, T. (2010). The South African wine industry: meeting the challenges of structural and social transformation. In P. Douglas (Ed.), Geography of Wine: Regions, Terroir and Techniques. Springer Verlag.
• Social and Cultural Geography: Subaltern.
  
  McEwan, C. (2009). Social and Cultural Geography: Subaltern. In R. Kitchin & N. Thurift (Eds.), International Encyclopedia of Human Geography. (pp. 59-64). Elsevier.
• Development: Postcolonialism/Postcolonial Geographies.
  
  McEwan, C. (2009). Development: Postcolonialism/Postcolonial Geographies. In R. Kitchin & N. Thrift (Eds.), International Encyclopedia of Human Geography. (pp. 327-333). Elsevier.
• Geography, Culture and Global Change.
  
  McEwan, C. (2008). Geography, Culture and Global Change. In P. Daniels, M. Bradshaw, D. Shaw, & J. Sidaway (Eds.), Human Geography, Issues for the 21st Century. (3rd ed., pp. 273-289). Pearson.
• The non-'Global City' of Birmingham, UK: a gateway through time.
  
  McEwan, C., Pollard, J., & Henry, N. (2007). The non-’Global City’ of Birmingham, UK: a gateway through time. In L. Benton-Short & M. Price (Eds.), Migrants to the Metropolis: The Rise of Immigrant Gateway Cities. (pp. 191-224). Syracuse University Press.
• Using Images, Films and Photography.
  
  McEwan, C. (2006). Using Images, Films and Photography. In V. Desai & R. Potter (Eds.), Doing Development Research. (pp. 231-240). SAGE Publications.
• Mobilizing culture for social justice and development: South Africa’s Amazwi Abesifazane memory cloths program.
  
  McEwan, C. (2006). Mobilizing culture for social justice and development: South Africa’s Amazwi Abesifazane memory cloths program. In S. Radcliffe (Ed.), Culture and Development in a Globalising World: Geographies, Actors and Paradigms. (pp. 203-227). Routledge.
• Geography, Culture and Global Change.
  
  McEwan, C. (2005). Geography, Culture and Global Change. In P. Daniels, M. Bradshaw, D. Shaw, & J. Sidaway (Eds.), Human Geography, Issues for the 21st Century. (pp. 265-283). Pearson.
• Gendered Citizenship in South Africa: Rights and Beyond.
  
  McEwan, C. (2005). Gendered Citizenship in South Africa: Rights and Beyond. In A. Gouwns (Ed.), (Un) Thinking Citizenship, Feminist Debates in Contemporary South Africa. (pp. 177-198). Ashgate/UCT Press.
• Transnationalism.
  
  McEwan, C. (2004). Transnationalism. In N. Johnson, R. Schein, & J. Duncan (Eds.), Companion of Cultural Geography. (pp. 499-512). Blackwell.
• The West and Other Feminisms.
  
  McEwan, C. (2003). The West and Other Feminisms. In K. Anderson, M. Domosh, S. Pile, & N. Thrift (Eds.), Handbook of Cultural Geography. (pp. 405-419). SAGE Publications.
• Introducing postcolonial geographies.
  
  Blunt, A., & McEwan, C. (2002). Introducing postcolonial geographies. In A. Blunt & C. McEwan (Eds.), Postcolonial Geographies. (pp. 1-6). Continuum.
• Postcolonialism.
  
  McEwan, C. (2002). Postcolonialism. In R. Potter & V. Desai (Eds.), The Arnold Companion to Development Studies. (pp. 127-131). Arnold.
• Geography, culture and global change.
  
  McEwan, C. (2001). Geography, culture and global change. In P. Daniels, M. Bradshaw, D. Shaw, & J. Sidaway (Eds.), Human Geography Issues for the 21st Century. (pp. 154-179).

Edited book

• Postcolonial Economies.
  
  Pollard, J., McEwan, C., & Hughes, A. (Eds.). (2011). Postcolonial Economies. Zed.
• Postcolonial Geographies.
  
  Blunt, A., & McEwan, C. (Eds.). (2002). Postcolonial Geographies. Continuum.

Journal Article

• COVID-19 in the context of HIV/AIDS: creative practice and community self-help in Kampala
  
  Ssewanyana, R., & McEwan, C. (2025). COVID-19 in the context of HIV/AIDS: creative practice and community self-help in Kampala. Critical African Studies. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/21681392.2025.2547494
• Food, memory, and changing framings of sustainable consumption in Johannesburg
  
  McEwan, C., Daya, S., & Hughes, A. (2025). Food, memory, and changing framings of sustainable consumption in Johannesburg. Critical African Studies. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/21681392.2024.2445168
• The meanings of food in Africa: introduction to a special issue of Critical African Studies
  
  Daya, S., McEwan, C., & Tsampiras, C. (2025). The meanings of food in Africa: introduction to a special issue of Critical African Studies. Critical African Studies, 17(2), 115-118. https://doi.org/10.1080/21681392.2025.2544021
• Multispecies storytelling in botanical worlds: the creative agencies of plants in contested ecologies
  
  McEwan, C. (2023). Multispecies storytelling in botanical worlds: the creative agencies of plants in contested ecologies. Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space, 6(2), 1114–1137. https://doi.org/10.1177/25148486221110755
• Public-making in a pandemic: the role of street art in East Africa  
  
  McEwan, C., Szablewska, L., Lewis, K., & Nabulime, L. (2022). Public-making in a pandemic: the role of street art in East Africa  . Political Geography, 98, Article 102692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2022.102692
• Demonic Possession: Narratives of Domestic Abuse and Trauma in Malaysia
  
  Sahdan, Z., Pain, R., & McEwan, C. (2022). Demonic Possession: Narratives of Domestic Abuse and Trauma in Malaysia. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 47(2), 286-301. https://doi.org/10.1111/tran.12485
• UK street art and the meaning of masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020-21
  
  McEwan, C., Szablewska, L., & Lewis, K. (2022). UK street art and the meaning of masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020-21. Social and Cultural Geography, 24(3-4), 503-523. https://doi.org/10.1080/14649365.2022.2065695
• Experiences of first-generation scholars at a highly selective UK university
  
  Hindle, C., McEwan, C., Boliver, V., Maclarnon, A., Simpson, B., & Brown, H. (2021). Experiences of first-generation scholars at a highly selective UK university. Learning and Teaching., 14(2), 1-31. https://doi.org/10.3167/latiss.2021.140202
• Taking on the tweed suits: Reflections on the ‘How the other half lives’ and its critique of masculinist geography
  
  McEwan, C. (2020). Taking on the tweed suits: Reflections on the ‘How the other half lives’ and its critique of masculinist geography. Area, 52(4), 770-777. https://doi.org/10.1111/area.12647
• Solar energy for all? Understanding the successes and shortfalls through a critical comparative assessment of Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Mozambique, Sri Lanka and South Africa
  
  Kumar, A., Ferdous, R., Luque-Ayala, A., McEwan, C., Power, M., Turner, B., & Bulkeley, H. (2019). Solar energy for all? Understanding the successes and shortfalls through a critical comparative assessment of Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Mozambique, Sri Lanka and South Africa. Energy Research and Social Science, 48, 166-176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2018.10.005
• Fairtrade, place and moral economy: between abstract ethical discourse and the moral experience of Northern Cape farmers
  
  McEwan, C., Hughes, A., & Bek, D. (2017). Fairtrade, place and moral economy: between abstract ethical discourse and the moral experience of Northern Cape farmers. Environment and Planning A, 49(3), 572-591. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308518x16674722
• Enrolling the private sector in community development: Magic bullet or sleight of hand?
  
  McEwan, C., Mawdsley, E., Banks, G., & Scheyvens, R. (2017). Enrolling the private sector in community development: Magic bullet or sleight of hand? Development and Change, 48(1), 28-53. https://doi.org/10.1111/dech.12283
• Spatial processes and politics of renewable energy transition: land, zones and frictions in South Africa
  
  McEwan, C. (2016). Spatial processes and politics of renewable energy transition: land, zones and frictions in South Africa. Political Geography, 56, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2016.10.001
• A High Road to Sustainability? Wildflower Harvesting, Ethical Trade and Social Upgrading in South Africa’s Western Cape
  
  Bek, D., Binns, T., Blokker, T., McEwan, C., & Hughes, A. (2016). A High Road to Sustainability? Wildflower Harvesting, Ethical Trade and Social Upgrading in South Africa’s Western Cape. Journal of Agrarian Change, 17(3), 459-479. https://doi.org/10.1111/joac.12149
• Theorising middle class consumption from the global South: A study of everyday ethics in South Africa’s Western Cape
  
  McEwan, C., Hughes, A., & Bek, D. (2015). Theorising middle class consumption from the global South: A study of everyday ethics in South Africa’s Western Cape. Geoforum, 67, 233-243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2015.02.011
• Mobilizing the Ethical Consumer in South Africa
  
  Hughes, A., McEwan, C., & Bek, D. (2015). Mobilizing the Ethical Consumer in South Africa. Geoforum, 67, 148-157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2015.07.011
• Postcolonial Perspectives on Global Production Networks: Insights from Flower Valley in South Africa
  
  Hughes, A., McEwan, C., & Bek, D. (2015). Postcolonial Perspectives on Global Production Networks: Insights from Flower Valley in South Africa. Environment and Planning A, 47(2), 249-266. https://doi.org/10.1068/a130083p
• Left in the waiting room of history? Provincializing the European child.
  
  Finn, M., & McEwan, C. (2015). Left in the waiting room of history? Provincializing the European child. Interventions: International Journal of Postcolonial Studies, 17(1), 113-134. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369801x.2013.858984
• Embedding Fairtrade in South Africa: Global Production Networks, National Initiatives and Localized Challenges in the Northern Cape
  
  Hughes, A., McEwan, C., Bek, D., & Rosenberg, Z. (2014). Embedding Fairtrade in South Africa: Global Production Networks, National Initiatives and Localized Challenges in the Northern Cape. Competition and Change, 18(4), 291-308. https://doi.org/10.1179/1024529414z.00000000062
• Using Art and Everyday Objects to Fight HIV/AIDS in Uganda
  
  Nabulime, L., & McEwan, C. (2014). Using Art and Everyday Objects to Fight HIV/AIDS in Uganda. Development in Practice, 24(2), 272-285. https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2014.884539
• Futures, ethics and the politics of expectation in biodiversity conservation: A case study of South African sustainable wildflower harvesting
  
  McEwan, C., Hughes, A., & Bek, D. (2014). Futures, ethics and the politics of expectation in biodiversity conservation: A case study of South African sustainable wildflower harvesting. Geoforum, 52, 206-215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2012.09.010
• Why ‘place’ matters in the development and impacts of Fairtrade production
  
  McEwan, C., Hughes, A., Bek, D., & Rosenberg, Z. (2014). Why ‘place’ matters in the development and impacts of Fairtrade production. Food Chain, 4(1), 78-92. https://doi.org/10.3362/2046-1887.2014.007
• Climate change, urban vulnerability and development in Saint-Louis and Bobo-Dioulasso: learning from across two West African cities
  
  Silver, J., McEwan, C., Petrella, L., & Baguian, H. (2013). Climate change, urban vulnerability and development in Saint-Louis and Bobo-Dioulasso: learning from across two West African cities. Local Environment, 18(6), 663-77. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2013.807787
• Retailers, Supply Networks and Changing Articulations of Ethicality: Lessons from Flower Valley in South Africa
  
  Hughes, A., McEwan, C., & Bek, D. (2013). Retailers, Supply Networks and Changing Articulations of Ethicality: Lessons from Flower Valley in South Africa. Journal of Economic Geography, 13(2), 211-230. https://doi.org/10.1093/jeg/lbs049
• Trilateral development cooperation: power and politics in emerging aid relationships
  
  McEwan, C., & Mawdsley, E. (2012). Trilateral development cooperation: power and politics in emerging aid relationships. Development and Change, 43(6), 1185-1209. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7660.2012.01805.x
• Art as social practice: transforming lives using sculpture in HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention in Uganda.
  
  McEwan, C., & Nabulime, L. (2011). Art as social practice: transforming lives using sculpture in HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention in Uganda. Cultural Geographies, 18(3), 275-296. https://doi.org/10.1177/1474474010377548
• Place Geography and the Ethics of Care: Introductory remarks on the geographies of ethics, responsibility and care.
  
  McEwan, C., & Goodman, M. (2010). Place Geography and the Ethics of Care: Introductory remarks on the geographies of ethics, responsibility and care. Ethics, Place and Environment, 13(2), 103-112. https://doi.org/10.1080/13668791003778602
• The political economy of alternative trade: Social and environmental certification in the South African wine industry
  
  McEwan, C., & Bek, D. (2009). The political economy of alternative trade: Social and environmental certification in the South African wine industry. Journal of Rural Studies, 25(3), 255-266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2009.03.001
• Placing ethical trade in context: WIETA and the South African wine industry
  
  McEwan, C., & Bek, D. (2009). Placing ethical trade in context: WIETA and the South African wine industry. Third World Quarterly, 30(4), 723-742. https://doi.org/10.1080/01436590902867144
• Economic Geography Under Postcolonial Scrutiny
  
  Pollard, J., McEwan, C., Laurie, N., & Stenning, A. (2009). Economic Geography Under Postcolonial Scrutiny. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 34(2), 137-142. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-5661.2009.00336.x
• Feminisme 'occidental' et autres feminismes: politique postcoloniale et transversale.
  
  McEwan, C. (2008). Feminisme ’occidental’ et autres feminismes: politique postcoloniale et transversale. Pensées Féministes. Special Issue: Diversité Des Féminismes., 4, 133-152.
• A very modern ghost: postcolonialism and the politics of enchantment
  
  McEwan, C. (2007). A very modern ghost: postcolonialism and the politics of enchantment. Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 26(1), 29-46. https://doi.org/10.1068/d460t
• Disability and Development: Different Models, Different Places
  
  McEwan, C., & Butler, R. (2007). Disability and Development: Different Models, Different Places. Geography Compass, 1(3), 448-466. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-8198.2007.00023.x
• Ethical trading and socioeconomic transformation: critical reflections on the South African wine industry
  
  Bek, D., McEwan, C., & Bek, K. (2007). Ethical trading and socioeconomic transformation: critical reflections on the South African wine industry. Environment and Planning A, 39(2), 301-319. https://doi.org/10.1068/a3831
• (Re)Politicizing empowerment: Lessons from the South African wine industry
  
  McEwan, C., & Bek, D. (2006). (Re)Politicizing empowerment: Lessons from the South African wine industry. Geoforum, 37(6), 1021-1034. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2006.06.004
• The 'global' in the city economy: multicultural economic development in Birmingham
  
  McEwan, C., Pollard, J., & Henry, N. (2005). The ’global’ in the city economy: multicultural economic development in Birmingham. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 29(4), 916-933. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2427.2005.00628.x
• New spaces of citizenship? Rethinking gendered participation and empowerment in South Africa
  
  McEwan, C. (2005). New spaces of citizenship? Rethinking gendered participation and empowerment in South Africa. Political Geography, 24(8), 969-991. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2005.05.001
• Psychological Taxing in Flemish municipalities.
  
  Ashworth, J., Heyndels, B., Smolders, C., & Mcewan, C. (2003). Psychological Taxing in Flemish municipalities. Journal of Economic Psychology, 24, 741-762.
• 'Bringing government to the people': women, local governance and community participation in South Africa
  
  McEwan, C. (2003). ’Bringing government to the people’: women, local governance and community participation in South Africa. Geoforum, 34(4), 469-481. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0016-7185%2803%2900050-2
• Material geographies and postcolonialism
  
  McEwan, C. (2003). Material geographies and postcolonialism. Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography, 24(3), 340-355. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9493.00163
• Building a Postcolonial Archive? Gender, Collective Memory and Citizenship in Post-apartheid South Africa.
  
  McEwan, C. (2003). Building a Postcolonial Archive? Gender, Collective Memory and Citizenship in Post-apartheid South Africa. Journal of Southern African Studies, 29(3), 739-757.
• Critical theory and culture in the practice of historical geography: a British perspective.
  
  McEwan, C. (2003). Critical theory and culture in the practice of historical geography: a British perspective. Historical Geography, 31, 99-103.
• Globalization from below: Birmingham - postcolonial workshop of the world?
  
  Henry, N., McEwan, C., & Pollard, J. (2002). Globalization from below: Birmingham - postcolonial workshop of the world? Area, 34(2), 117-127. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-4762.00064
• Postcolonialism, feminism and development: intersections and dilemmas.
  
  McEwan, C. (2001). Postcolonialism, feminism and development: intersections and dilemmas. Progress in Development Studies, 1(2), 93-111.
• Gender and citizenship: learning from South Africa.
  
  McEwan, C. (2001). Gender and citizenship: learning from South Africa. Agenda, 16(47), 47-59. https://doi.org/10.1080/10130950.2001.9675931