John Round

Dr John Round is a Senior Lecturer in Human Geography at the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, specializing in socio-economic geography of post-Soviet spaces. His research examines how marginalized populations develop coping strategies against economic exclusion, with regional focus on Russia and Central Asia.

His educational background includes:

• PhD Geography (University of Birmingham, 2003)
• MSc World Space Economy (University of Birmingham, 1998)
• BA Geography (University of Liverpool, 1995)

Round's work centers on post-Soviet marginality, analyzing informal economic practices among labor migrants from Central Asia in Russian cities. Drawing on Lefebvre's spatial theory and de Certeau's tactics/strategies framework, he investigates state-society power dynamics, corruption, and everyday precarity. Key themes include migration governance, welfare access, housing insecurity, and the spatial construction of exclusion in 'cities of exception'.

His publication portfolio (2013-2022) reveals consistent focus on labor migration in post-Soviet contexts, with recent expansion into pandemic impacts (COVID-19 migration disruptions) and religious coping mechanisms. Methodologically grounded in qualitative case studies across Moscow, Kazan, and Central Asia, his work bridges urban geography, political economy, and migration studies.

Round leads the CARUS migration network connecting Russian academics, policymakers, and NGOs, and serves as Academic Lead for the International Laboratory for Comparative Urban Studies at Kazan Federal University. Funded by ESRC and Open Society Foundation, his projects examine migrant welfare access and post-Soviet social policy. He also contributes as International Editor for The International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy and advises Kazakhstani/Russian research councils.

Institutionally, he co-leads the Berlin Field Trip and teaches GM333 Post-Socialist Transformation (Moscow-focused) and GM406 Critical Globalisations modules, maintaining Birmingham affiliation despite extensive Moscow-based fieldwork.