Sita Balani

Sita Balani is a Senior Lecturer in English and a Fellow at the Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences at Queen Mary University of London. She joined Queen Mary in 2022 after serving as a Lecturer in Contemporary Literature and Culture at King’s College London, where she earned her PhD in 2016. Balani holds a BA from the University of Leeds and an MA from Goldsmiths, University of London.

Her research focuses on hegemonic and insurgent political formations, sexuality, imperialism, and the 'War on Terror.' She critically examines how race is naturalized through sexual norms and explores intersections of intimacy, state control, and colonial legacies. A co-author of *Empire’s Endgame: Racism and the British State* (2021), her work critiques systemic racism and neoliberalism, emphasizing political education and grassroots activism.

Through public engagement, Balani collaborates with galleries, cultural venues, and activist organizations. She runs the 'Up Close' reading group on sex and desire at the Institute of Contemporary Arts and has delivered workshops on topics like homonationalism and anti-imperialist movements. Her writing appears in academic journals (*Identities*, *Feminist Review*) and outlets like *Verso*, *VICE*, and *Novara Media*.

She welcomes doctoral students, particularly first-generation university attendees, and supervises research aligned with her areas of study. Her teaching modules include 'Study and Struggle: Global Revolutionary Thought and Practice,' designed for both academic and community settings.

Balani’s affiliations include Queen Mary’s School of English and Drama and the Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences. She advocates for accessible academic work and participatory education, bridging scholarly research with public activism.