Peter Lockwood

Peter Lockwood is a Hallsworth Research Fellow in Social Anthropology at the University of Manchester. His research focuses on economic and political anthropology, with a regional specialization in Kenya. He explores themes such as land commodification, kinship dynamics, and the production of 'surplus people' in post-peasant landscapes. His current work examines Nairobi's construction boom and its impact on peri-urban areas, particularly intergenerational tensions over land. He co-authored Nairobi Becoming, an ethnographic study of the city, and is editing a collection on land assetization and homeownership titled Timing Property.

Lockwood’s political anthropology research includes analyses of Kenya’s 2022 elections, emphasizing hustler populism and economic inequality. His book project Familiar Enmity: Hustlers and their Dynasties in Kenya's Elections applies anthropological perspectives to electoral politics. He contributes to public discourse through articles in The Elephant and African Arguments, and has been featured on The Kenyanist podcast. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals addressing poverty and inequality.