Ben Anderson

Ben Anderson is a Professor of Human Geography at Durham University, where he's worked for over twenty years.

He researches the role of feelings such as hope, joy and boredom in political and cultural life. Past research has focused on the role of optimism in Brexit, and the feelings behind right wing and left wing populisms. Recent work includes his analysis (with Anna Secor) of politics in the UK and USA since the 2008 financial crisis: The Politics of Feeling: Populism, Progressivism, Liberalism (2025, Goldsmiths University Press).

The book analyses how the three political movements that define politics today - right-wing populism, progressivism, liberalism - offer different ways of feeling about the past and the future, as well as intensity and attachment in the present. All respond to the uncertainty that defines the post 2008 period.

He welcomes media inquiries about this work, and invitations to speak at public, policy or academic events. An interview about the book was published in Byline Times - 'Fun and joy are very powerful political forces':

https://subscribe.bylinetimes.com/edition/81/fun-and-joy-are-very-powerful-political-forces/

His current research focuses on the politics of intensity - strong feelings and little or no feeling - in relation to politics in crisis times. This includes writing a new book about the role of boredom in the rise of the far-right, and researching the politics of disaffection (including boredom and indifference) in relation to climate change.