Jason Sumich

Jason Sumich is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Criminology at the University of Essex, specializing in class formation, state development, and urban politics in southern Africa. He holds a PhD from the London School of Economics and has conducted extensive fieldwork in Mozambique since 2002. His research examines how privileged groups interact with state institutions during periods of political transformation.

Research interests include class formation in post-colonial contexts, urban enclaving in African cities, political economy of southern Africa, nationalism and state formation, and the anthropology of elites. His work connects political anthropology with urban studies and economic sociology.

Publications examine middle-class formation in Mozambique, urban inequality in Maputo, and the political economy of post-socialist transitions. Recent work analyzes spatial segregation in African cities and the political ontology of development. Research employs ethnographic methods to understand social stratification and urban transformation.

Currently directs the Norwegian Research Council-funded project 'Enclaving: Patterns of Global Futures in Three African Cities'. Supervises PhD candidates researching supply chain politics, human rights, and criminology. Previously taught at University of Fort Hare, University of Pretoria, and NTNU Norway.