Deborah James

Deborah James FBA is a Professor of Anthropology at the London School of Economics (LSE). Her research focuses on economic anthropology, particularly indebtedness, advice systems, and redistribution in precarious contexts. She has conducted extensive fieldwork in South Africa and the UK, examining issues like financial inclusion, land reform, and welfare state dynamics. Key works include *Clawing Back* (2025), analyzing livelihood strategies in both countries, and *Money from Nothing* (2015), which won the Fage and Oliver Prize. She has collaborated with institutions like Black Sash and the National Financial Ombud Scheme SA on policy advocacy. Her research also spans comparative land restitution, ethnomusicology, and postcolonial state dynamics. Awards include the 2016 Fage and Oliver Prize. She edits influential volumes such as *Culture Wars* (2010) and contributes to debates on anthropological methodology.