John Roberts

Professor John Roberts is a sociologist and communications scholar at Brunel University London, affiliated with the Social Science and Communications department in the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences. He holds a PhD from Cardiff University (2000), with earlier degrees from Lancaster and Essex universities. His research focuses on free speech in urban spaces, digital media's impact on labor, and critical social theory. Notable projects include studies on Hyde Park's free speech history and Marble Arch monument governance. He teaches modules like 'Digital Cultures' and serves as UG Programme Convenor for Sociology and Communications.

Research interests span public sphere theory, neoliberal urban governance, and activism studies. Recent publications analyze Bourdieu's sociology of speech, digital labor under late capitalism, and spatial conflicts over public assembly. Roberts has held Leverhulme Fellowships and co-convenes the Political Studies Association's social/political movements network. His work bridges Marxist theory with empirical studies of everyday activism and spatial politics.