Spencer Beswick

Spencer Beswick is a historian of anarchism and the left in the Americas currently serving as a Postdoctoral Associate with the Society for the Humanities at Cornell University. His academic work focuses on the revitalization of anarchist movements in the late twentieth century, particularly through his dissertation "Love and Rage: Revolutionary Anarchism in the Late Twentieth Century," which explores the transformation of anarchism in the 1980s-90s.

Dr. Beswick's research interests span the history of radical political movements, with particular emphasis on:

• 20th century anarchist movements and their evolution
• Transnational left-wing politics in the Americas
• Oral history methodologies for documenting social movements
• The intersection of anarchism with feminism, race, and class politics
• Contemporary applications of historical radical movements

His scholarly publications reveal an interdisciplinary approach bridging historical analysis with practical political engagement, with recent work examining topics ranging from quarantine communes during the pandemic to the history of abortion defense movements. Dr. Beswick's academic output demonstrates consistent focus on how historical radical movements inform contemporary political struggles, particularly around issues of reproductive justice, anti-fascism, and community-based organizing.

Dr. Beswick has been actively involved in community-based projects, including Food Not Bombs, the Antidote Infoshop, and the Democratic Socialists of America. He recently launched "Socialism is Gorges: Ithaca's Radical History," a local oral history project documenting radical political movements in Ithaca, NY, which exemplifies his commitment to preserving and making accessible grassroots political histories.