Benjamin Little

Benjamin Little is an Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Civic Associate Professor in Media & Cultural Politics at the University of East Anglia (UEA). He co-leads UEA's civic engagement initiatives, including the groundbreaking Civic Charter process and its resulting book. His research focuses on participatory methods, digital culture, and the intersection of celebrity with political power. Little has held roles at Middlesex University and currently serves as Founding Chair of the London College of Political Technology and External Examiner at Goldsmiths.

Education: PhD in Comic Books, Politics and Readers from Middlesex University (2010), awarded the John A. Lent Scholarship for outstanding research in comic art. His doctoral work analyzed British comics' influence on American culture.

Research Interests: Little investigates participatory democracy, digital media's role in activism, and the sociopolitical implications of tech industry leaders. He co-authored The New Patriarchs of Digital Capitalism, examining figures like Musk and Zuckerberg. His work bridges academia, activism, and policy, emphasizing collaboration and civic responsibility.

Awards: Recipient of the prestigious John A. Lent Scholarship (2008) recognizing exceptional research in comic art studies.

Advising & Grants: Supervises PhD projects on digital politics and activism. Leads the ARISE project on regional resilience and innovation, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. Co-edited Soundings: A Journal of Politics and Culture for 13 years, fostering dialogue between academia and activism.

Labs/Teams: Active in the international Teaching Social Action leadership group, training educators to integrate student-led campaigns into pedagogy. Co-founded UEA's Civic Charter initiative, a model for university-community partnerships nationally.