Rupert Russell is a PhD candidate in the Sociology Department at
Harvard University and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research
Fellow. In 2006 he graduated top of his class from Cambridge
University, Jesus College, with Triple-Starred First Class BA
Hons in the Social and Political Sciences (SPS). His areas of expertise
are in the areas of media and politics, the war of ideas, ideological
social movements, and the television industry.

Rupert was born and bred in England and holds dual UK-US citizenship.
He currently lives in Cambridge, MA.

russell at wjh dot harvard dot edu

Blog Entries by Rupert Russell

America's Gay Leadership Crisis

Posted August 17, 2009 | 10:20 PM (EST)


The leadership struggle for civil equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Americans is in crisis. A glut of organizations, with competing interests and shifting priorities, of professional lobbyists pitted against grassroots activists, splintered over race and religion, jostling for influence whilst shirking responsibility, has created an unprecedented leadership...

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Ensign Scandal Reminds Us of the Double Standard Placed on Gays and Lesbians

6 Comments | Posted July 10, 2009 | 02:47 PM (EST)


The John Ensign scandal, like all those that have come before it, has been framed by the perpetrator and their defenders, as personal matters requiring respect for privacy from public scrutiny. They talk of their personal misgivings, the task ahead of rebuilding their relationship with their wife, children, constituents, staff,...

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The Left isn't Leaving Obama -- Yet

Posted April 1, 2009 | 04:55 PM (EST)


Over the last week, pundits and journalists alike have declared that the showdown between Obama and The Left has begun. As the FT's Edward Luce announces: "The liberal backlash against President Barack Obama has begun with many prominent left-leaning economists in the US attacking the administration's plans to bail...

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Will Obama's Presidency End the Progressive Movement?

Posted January 20, 2009 | 06:12 PM (EST)


The progressive movement has had it easy. There's been a lot to mobilize for and unite against. Now what?

History doesn't offer much comfort. The conservative movement grew most when it was exile from the Republican Party. National Review was born under moderate Eisenhower. The grassroots conservative movement flourished...

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Why the Conservatives Won't Crack-up, But the Left Probably Will

Posted November 24, 2008 | 10:23 AM (EST)


The predictions of the conservative crack-up anticipating John McCain's defeat appear to have come to fruition. We hear of the post-election GOP power grab among the Governors in Florida, contenders for the chairmanship of the RNC, or the future presidential nominees racing to Iowa. Conservative politicians, pundits and intellectuals are...

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Obama: From "Shouldn't" to "Did"

Posted November 5, 2008 | 01:10 PM (EST)


"Obama should be running away with this," so said the conventional wisdom. Economic crisis, an unpopular president, two on-going wars, "should" have placed the Democratic nominee 10 or 20 points ahead in the national polls. Instead, so the story went, Obama's race, his pastor, his inexperience were dragging the Democrats...

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