Jonathan Pattenden

Jonathan Pattenden is an Associate Professor in the School of Global Development at the University of East Anglia (UEA), where he has been a faculty member since 2008. He is affiliated with research groups focused on Life Course, Migration and Wellbeing, and The State, Governance and Conflict. He holds an MSc and PhD in Development Studies from SOAS, University of London.

• PhD in Development Studies, SOAS, University of London
• MSc in Development Studies, SOAS, University of London

His research lies at the intersection of political economy and political sociology, with a focus on the Global South. Key interests include labor exploitation, class and gender relations, social reproduction, circular migration, state-society dynamics, and social movements. His regional expertise spans South and Southeast Asia and East Africa.

His recent publications explore themes such as agrarian populism, global value chains, and the interplay between patriarchy and class in rural economies. These works reflect a consistent analytical focus on structural inequalities and collective action for social equity.

• Contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to poverty, inequality, and decent work
• Co-Director of the MA in Development Studies and BA in Development Studies with Politics
• Teaches courses including Politics, Policy and Practice; South Asian Development; and Contemporary World Development

He has been involved in significant research projects, including the Research Programme Consortium on Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Security in South Asia, funded by the Department for International Development. His collaborative network includes scholars from across the globe, and he has edited special journal issues and contributed to major reference works.

Jonathan Pattenden is actively engaged in academic leadership through editorial roles and curriculum development, contributing to the advancement of critical development studies.