‘Medieval Literature' or 'Early Europe'?: How to win grants and change the course of scholarship

Abstract

This paper explores the unexpected success of the Network for Early EuropeanResearch, based at the University of Western Australia, which was recently awardedA$1.6 million over a five-year period to support research and postgraduate trainingin medieval and early modern studies in Australia. What lessons can be drawn fromthe success of this grant application for other projects in medieval studies that mustcompete for funding in national contests across all the disciplines? One of thedistinctive strengths of the Network is its willingness to think in unusually broadterms about the influential reach of medieval and early modern social and culturalforms into settler colonies like eighteenth-century Australia and beyond. But towhat extent might government priorities be driving the nature of research? Howcan medieval studies best respond to these external pressures?