Ricado Jacobs

Ricado Jacobs is an affiliated faculty member in Global Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), within the College of Letters and Science and the Department of Sociology. He holds a PhD in Sociology from Johns Hopkins University. His research focuses on global political economy, urbanization, ecology, and agrarian change in post-colonial Africa, particularly examining how colonial-racial capitalism and grassroots movements shape social structures.

Education:

• PhD in Sociology, Johns Hopkins University

Research Interests:

• Global political economy of urbanization
• Agrarian change and ecology
• Post-colonial African studies
• Social movements and class struggle

His articles explore themes like climate change’s impact on agrarian systems, urban-rural dynamics in South Africa, and the legacy of imperialism. His work bridges theory and activism, as seen in his analysis of land occupations and livestock raising in urban contexts.

Scientific Awards:

• 2017-2018 Krishna Bharadwaji and Eric Wolf Prize (Journal of Peasant Studies)
• 2020 Terence K. Hopkins Award (American Sociological Association)

Advising & Grants: While no specific grants are listed, his extensive pre-PhD career in land reform and food sovereignty advocacy (over 15 years in South Africa) underscores his applied research focus. He currently co-edits the Journal of Peasant Studies’s book review section.

Labs/Teams: Active in global agrarian studies networks, particularly linked to La Via Campesina and the Food Sovereignty Movement.