Dr. Victor Kempf is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institut für Philosophie , Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, since March 2025. He completed his PhD at Goethe-Universität Frankfurt in 2017 and focuses on social and political philosophy from a critical theory perspective.
David Harvey is a Distinguished Professor of Anthropology and Geography at the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center and Director of Research at the Center for Place, Culture and Politics. He has been teaching and writing about Karl Marx’s Capital for over 50 years, earning recognition as a leading Marxist scholar and urban theorist. Research Interests Cultural anthropology Political economy Urbanization and capitalist development Environmental justice Geographical theory Advanced capitalist countries Publications & Trends Harvey’s work spans Marxist theory, neoliberalism, and urban studies, with recent focus on Grundrisse and capitalist contradictions. His scholarship connects historical materialism to contemporary crises, emphasizing spatial fixes, environmental limits, and anti-capitalist resistance. Awards & Honors Outstanding Contributor Award (Association of American Geographers) Centenary Medal (Royal Scottish Geographical Society, 2002) Isaac and Tamara Deutscher Book Prize (2010) for The Enigma of Capital Honorary degrees from University of Bristol, Goldsmith College, Kent, Buenos Aires, Roskilde, Uppsala, and Ohio State University
Tithi Bhattacharya is a Full Professor in the Department of History at Purdue University. She holds a PhD from the University of London and is renowned for her work in South Asian history, Transnational Gender, Colonialism, and Global History. Bhattacharya is the author of influential books including Ghostly Past, Capitalist Presence (Duke, 2024) and The Sentinels of Culture (Oxford, 2005), and co-author of the widely translated Feminism for the 99%: A Manifesto (Verso, 2019). Her educational background includes a PhD from the University of London. This foundational training has equipped her to critically engage with colonial and postcolonial histories, Marxist theory, and feminist praxis. Bhattacharya's research interests span Social Reproduction Theory, Marxist feminism, and the intersections of class, gender, and colonialism. She examines how capitalism relies on the social reproduction of labor, particularly through gendered and racialized exploitation. Her work also addresses Islamophobia and the politics of fear in colonial and contemporary contexts, as seen in her book Ghostly Past, Capitalist Presence . Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on Social Reproduction Theory as a framework for understanding global capitalism and feminist resistance. Her articles frequently address the BRICS nations, anti-colonial movements, and the development of a feminism that centers the 99%. The multilingual nature of her work (appearing in over 30 languages) underscores its international impact. While specific scientific awards are not mentioned in the provided text, Bhattacharya's work has been published in prestigious journals such as the Journal of Asian Studies and South Asia Research , and she serves on the editorial boards of Studies on Asia and Spectre . Information regarding her advising of students and grant activities is not provided in the current text. Similarly, details about labs or research teams are absent.
Stefan Kipfer is a Professor at the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change , York University. He coordinates the Cities, Regions, Planning program and holds a PhD in Political Science from York University. His research focuses on the intersections of spatial organization, social order, and political rule, with particular emphasis on urban politics, racial capitalism, and anti-colonial theory. Education: PhD in Political Science, York University MES in Urban Political Economy and Ecological Politics, York University BA in Political Science and French, York University Kipfer's research spans transnational urban studies, critical theory, and radical political ecology. He explores: Urban social movements in Zurich, Toronto, and Paris State interventions in public housing, transit, and environmental policy The capitalist and racialized dimensions of urbanization Right-wing populism and neo-fascism Connections between Henri Lefebvre, Frantz Fanon, and Antonio Gramsci Recent work analyzes: Urbanization as neocolonial process Anti-racist and decolonial spatial strategies Transit justice and free public services Comparative urban governance Resistances to far-right regimes Articulation theory and political strategy He supervises graduate students in Environmental Studies, Geography, and Political Science, and has contributed to critical urban theory through publications linking Marxist, anti-colonial, and feminist frameworks.
Sarah Bracke is a Professor in Sociology of Gender and Sexuality at the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam . Her work critically examines intersections of gender, sexuality, race, and secularism, particularly in European contexts. She is deeply engaged in analyzing systemic crises—capitalist, nationalist, and ecological—and their impact on marginalized communities. Current Affiliation : University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. Research Focus : Gender theory, reproductive rights, anti-LGBTQ+ mobilizations, secularism, and the political dimensions of care economies. Bracke’s research emphasizes the deliberate erosion of gender, reproductive, and LGBTQ+ rights, often highlighting transnational collaborations among far-right and mainstream political forces. She connects these issues to broader crises, including climate change, capitalist precarity, and nationalist rhetoric. Her work advocates for feminist coalitions that transcend traditional boundaries, prioritizing care ethics and collective solidarity over exclusionary frameworks. Her recent publications explore topics like the racialized dimensions of reproductive politics, the secularist underpinnings of European ‘Muslim Question’ discourse, and the role of academia in resisting oppressive systems. Although no specific awards or advisees are mentioned in the text, Bracke’s scholarship consistently bridges feminist theory, critical race analysis, and critiques of neoliberalism, urging transformative responses to global crises.
Dr Jamie Woodcock is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Economy at King's College London, based in the Department of Digital Humanities within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities. He holds a PhD in sociology from Goldsmiths, University of London, and has held academic positions at institutions including the University of Leeds, University of Manchester, LSE, and the Open University. His research focuses on labour processes, platform work, gig economy dynamics, and worker organizing, with a particular emphasis on critical global capitalism and digital culture. Woodcock’s research interests include the games industry, unionization strategies, and resistance to algorithmic management. He is an editorial board member of Notes from Below and Historical Materialism , and contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives such as the Research Centre for Digital Culture and the Critical Global Capitalism Studies Collective at King’s. His work has been widely covered in media and he frequently speaks on digital labour issues. He has authored influential books like The Fight Against Platform Capitalism and The Gig Economy: A Critical Introduction , co-authored Guerrilla Democracy: Mobile Power and Revolution in the 21st Century , and published extensively on topics ranging from delivery platform strikes to gamification critiques. His recent recognition includes a 2025-26 Digital Futures Institute Fellowship.
Dr. phil. Andrej Holm is a Researcher at the Institute of Social Sciences , Humboldt University of Berlin, specializing in Urban and Regional Sociology . As a Women's Representative and active academic, he focuses on gentrification, housing policy in international comparison, and European urban policy. His work bridges academia and activism, contributing to housing referendums and social movement analysis. Research Themes : Gentrification dynamics, financialization of housing, socio-ecological housing transformation, and post-socialist urban development. Key Projects : Expert analysis for Berlin housing socialization referendum (2022), comparative studies on Amsterdam/Barcelona/Berlin/Vienna (2022), and social infrastructure reconceptualization (2021). Holm's publications span urban policy critiques and housing justice , with recent 2025 works examining financial investors' impact on Berlin housing and pandemic-era housing conditions. His research integrates political economy with spatial inequality frameworks.
Dr. Winnie Lem is a Professor in the Department of International Development Studies and Gender and Social Justice program at Trent University. Her research focuses on migration, transnationalism, citizenship, and political economy with a regional emphasis on Europe and Asia. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. Her academic work spans migration studies, urbanization, gender, and rural politics. Notable contributions include analyses of Chinese migrant entrepreneurs in France, militant populism in contemporary France, and the dialectics of migration. Lem has co-edited several volumes on migration and capitalism, including Migration Temporalities and Capitalism (2018) and Confronting Capital (2012). Lem teaches courses on global inequality, migration, and development studies. She actively contributes to interdisciplinary research through collaborations with institutions like the Canadian Anthropology Society. Her work often bridges anthropological theory with critical political economy frameworks, examining how global capitalism shapes migrant experiences and social structures. Her recent scholarship (2020) contextualizes the Gilets Jaunes movement within broader populist trends in France, while earlier work (2001–2009) explored labor dynamics in rural France and transnational migrant economies. Lem’s research emphasizes the intersection of class, gender, and ethnicity in migration narratives.
Alexander Dunlap is a Research Scientist at Boston University's Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS) and a visiting research fellow at the University of Helsinki's Global Development Studies department. He holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, an MSc in Modules from the University of Sussex (UK), an MA in Environment, Development and Policy from Sussex, and a BS in Political Science from Portland State University (USA). His work critically examines energy transitions, extractive industries, and the socioecological impacts of green capitalism. Research Interests: Political ecology of low-carbon technologies Green extractivism in global contexts Decolonial and anarchist approaches to sustainability State violence and counterinsurgency tactics Environmental justice in renewable energy projects Publications: Dunlap’s recent work focuses on solar energy injustices in California, industrial solar manufacturing in Ohio, and the militarization of nature. His articles interrogate how 'green' infrastructure reinforces colonial and capitalist systems, often through spatial dispossession and anti-Indigenous violence. Labs/Teams: Active in IGS research clusters studying infrastructural harm and energy justice. Co-editor of Human Geography , a journal promoting radical interdisciplinary scholarship. Future Work: Continuing research on solar project lifecycles, particularly mining-to-decommissioning impacts, and expanding analysis of Europe’s energy grid conflicts.
Alina Sajed is an Associate Professor of International Relations in the Department of Political Science at McMaster University, where she joined in September 2013 after serving as Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong from 2010 to 2013. She earned her PhD in Political Science from McMaster University in 2008, following academic work at Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Romania. Her educational background includes: Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English and French Language and Literature from Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iași Master of Arts from Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iași Master of Arts in Political Science from McMaster University PhD in Political Science from McMaster University (2008) Professor Sajed's research critically examines international relations through decolonial and postcolonial lenses, with particular focus on colonialism, decolonization, anticolonial theory, and Third Worldism as global political projects. Her work centers on North Africa and the Middle East, exploring political violence, political Islam, and the unrealized potential of Third Worldism beyond rigid nationalist boundaries. She investigates how Algerian intellectuals engaged in translocal solidarity with other decolonization projects worldwide. Dr. Sajed has received significant recognition for her scholarly contributions, including: ISA's 2024 Theory Award for special issue 'Anticolonial Connectivity and the Politics of Solidarity' President's Award for Excellence in Graduate Supervision (2022) As an educator, she teaches courses including International Relations: North-South, Non-Western International Relations, and Politics of the Global South. She serves as Associate Editor at Contexto Internacional: Journal of Global Connections and has guest edited issues for South Atlantic Quarterly and Postcolonial Studies, demonstrating her leadership in advancing decolonial approaches to international relations scholarship.
Michael Classens is an Assistant Professor in the Teaching Stream at the School of the Environment, University of Toronto , specializing in social and environmental justice within food systems. He serves as Undergraduate Associate Director, emphasizing community-based learning and integration of Indigenous and community knowledge into pedagogy. Education: PhD in Environmental Studies (York University, 2015), MA (University of Windsor), BA (Western University) His research explores environmental injustice/racism , food systems governance , and prefigurative learning spaces , particularly through campus food initiatives and critical cartography. He has published extensively on food solidarity, racialized food insecurity, and transformative pedagogies. Recent publications (2021–2024) analyze neoliberal responses to food crises, anti-racist food system frameworks, and campus foodscapes as sites of radical pedagogy. Keywords span environmental justice, critical race theory, urban agriculture, and labor studies. Scientific Awards: 2024 A&S Outstanding Teaching Award (Early Career, Faculty of Arts and Science) He advocates for informal and prefigurative learning , connecting classroom knowledge to real-world justice movements. His work bridges academic research with grassroots activism, focusing on equitable food systems and decolonizing educational practices.
Auritro Majumder is Associate Professor of English at the University of Houston's College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, holding a courtesy appointment in the India Studies Program. His academic profile spans literary scholarship, critical theory, and intellectual history with a focus on non-Western perspectives. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in English from Syracuse University (2014), a Certificate in Critical Theory from Cornell University (2012), an M.A. (First Class) in English from Jadavpur University (2009), and a B.A. (First Class Honours) in English from Jadavpur University (2007). Majumder's research centers on peripheral internationalism and decolonial knowledge production , examining literary traditions across India, the Soviet Union, China, Latin America, and the United States. His work bridges literary theory , critical race studies , and global political movements , with particular emphasis on Bengali literature, caste-race intersections, and South-South cultural networks. His monograph Insurgent Imaginations: World Literature and the Periphery (Cambridge University Press, 2020) redefines world literature through non-Western frameworks. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent engagement with decolonial aesthetics , transnational solidarity , and subaltern epistemologies . His scholarship demonstrates interdisciplinary reach spanning literary studies, political theory, film criticism, and comparative intellectual history, with increasing focus on contemporary debates around planetary consciousness and peripheral modernities. His scientific recognition includes: Project Completion Grant, CLASS (2019) William Lee Pryor College Professorship (2018-2019) Research Progress Grant (2017) CLASS Research Funds (2016) New Faculty Summer Research Grant (2015) Majumder actively contributes to academic service as Executive Committee member of the Modern Language Association’s South Asian and South Asian Diasporic Language, Literature and Culture Forum, editorial board member for Mediations , jurist for the National Endowment for the Humanities, and reviewer for multiple international journals. He has lectured globally across North America, South Asia, Europe, and Brazil. His teaching portfolio includes courses on postcolonial literature, modern Indian literature, and graduate seminars in postcolonial theory. Current projects include a monograph titled The Global South in Literature and Theory and a co-edited anthology Cultures of the Cold War in South Asia .
Gholam Khiabany is a Reader in Media and Communications at Goldsmiths, University of London, within the Department of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies (MCCS). His academic career spans over two decades with significant contributions to the understanding of media, politics, and cultural practices, particularly in relation to the Middle East. He serves as an editor of the Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication and is a member of the council of management of the Institute of Race Relations. Khiabany's research interests center on the complex relationship between citizenship, political activism, and media and cultural practices. His work critically examines media representation of race, migration, and refugees, with particular attention to anti-Muslim racism and the culturalization of terror. He has extensively studied political communication in Iran and the broader Middle East, analyzing how digital media transforms political engagement in authoritarian contexts. His scholarship also addresses the rise of the security state, multiculturalism debates, and the political economy of media in neoliberal times. His scholarly output demonstrates consistent engagement with contemporary political issues through a critical media studies lens. Recent publications reveal a growing focus on migration securitization, citizenship rights, and the marketization of higher education. His work consistently bridges theoretical rigor with urgent political questions, particularly regarding racialized politics and state power. Khiabany frequently collaborates with scholars like Milly Williamson, Natalie Fenton, and Des Freedman, reflecting his commitment to collective scholarly work. Khiabany has authored influential books including Iranian Media: The Paradox of Modernity (2009), Blogistan: The Internet and Politics in Iran (2010, co-authored with Annabelle Sreberny), and Media, Democracy and Social Change: Re-imagining Political Communications (2020). He has also co-edited significant volumes such as After Charlie Hebdo: Terror, Racism and Free Speech (2017) and The Handbook of Media and Culture in the Middle East (2023). His academic work consistently addresses issues of power, representation, and resistance, with particular attention to how marginalized communities navigate media landscapes. Khiabany's research has evolved to increasingly focus on the intersection of migration politics, security discourses, and racialized state power, while maintaining his foundational interest in Middle Eastern media politics and alternative communication practices.
Sharryn M. Kasmir serves as Professor of Anthropology at Hofstra University, where she conducts critical research on labor, capitalism, and working-class communities through ethnographic fieldwork in Spain's Basque region and the U.S. South. Her institutional affiliation centers within the Department of Anthropology, though the specific school/college structure isn't explicitly stated in available materials. Her academic credentials include: PhD from CUNY Graduate School and University Center MPhil from CUNY Hunter College BA from University of Massachusetts Amherst Professor Kasmir's research program critically interrogates Global Capitalism's impact on working-class lives, with specialized focus on Labor and Working Classes, Nationalist Movements and Identity, and Popular Culture across Western Europe and North America. Her fieldwork at Mondragon's worker cooperatives challenged idealized narratives through working-class perspectives, while her Saturn factory research exposed how auto workers navigate perpetual plant closure threats and economic insecurity. As co-editor of the seminal volume Blood and Fire: Toward a Global Anthropology of Labor , she established foundational frameworks for contemporary labor anthropology that bridge ethnographic detail with macro-political economic analysis. Her publication trajectory since the 1990s reveals persistent engagement with labor anthropology's core questions: analyzing worker cooperatives as contested sites within global capitalism (1996-2016), documenting working-class dispossession amid industrial restructuring (2008-2016), and developing theoretical tools like 'unevenness' for cross-cultural labor studies (2016). This body of work consistently synthesizes cultural anthropology, political economy, and critical theory to center workers' lived experiences within broader capitalist transformations. Available documentation contains no references to scientific awards, research grants, student advising activities, laboratory facilities, or collaborative research teams.
Chris Till is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Leeds Beckett University, specializing in the intersection of digital technologies, health practices, and social theory. His academic work critically examines how digital health technologies mediate contemporary social relations and subject formations within capitalist structures. Dr. Till's educational background includes studies at Nottingham Trent University and the University of Leeds. His research primarily focuses on self-tracking devices, corporate wellness programs, and the sociological implications of digital health technologies within contemporary capitalism. His scholarly work reveals consistent themes around digital labor, biopolitical control through health technologies, and the transformation of exercise and wellness practices into forms of labor under financialized capitalism. Till's research demonstrates how seemingly personal health tracking practices become integrated into broader systems of capital accumulation and social control. His publications show a clear trajectory examining the sociological dimensions of digital health, with particular attention to how corporate wellness initiatives transform individual health behaviors into productive labor for capital. The recurring themes across his work include the examination of self-tracking as a form of digital labor, the commercialization of bodies through wellness technologies, and the construction of new subjectivities within digital capitalism. As an educator, Till has developed academic writing tools to support student development, demonstrating his commitment to pedagogical innovation alongside his research interests in digital practices.