Joseph A. Buscemi, PhD

University lecturer and researcher

MODERN BRITAIN · COLD WAR HISTORY · CULTURE & MEDIA

I am a historian and university lecturer whose teaching and research connect politics, culture, media, and everyday life. My research focuses on modern Britain and Cold War civil defence, with broader interests in the United States and Canada.

I have taught at the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Toronto Mississauga, and McMaster University. My courses span modern history, film, digital media, consumer culture, and historical methods.

Teaching through culture and experience

From Cold War roleplay to the history of Disney parks, my courses invite students to investigate how historical narratives are created, communicated, and contested. Primary sources, popular culture, discussion, and experiential activities help students build historical arguments and understand unfamiliar perspectives.

Explore my teaching

Researching civil defence and public culture

My work examines British civil defence and nuclear culture, asking how governments and citizens understood survival, responsibility, and the threat of nuclear war.

Read about my research