Martin is a writer, researcher, and urbanist whose work explores the intersection of global politics and everyday urban life. He focuses on how large-scale political forces—such as nationalism, migration, and decolonization—are experienced and contested in cities. His research examines the role of ethnicity, religion, language, and national identity in shaping urban communities, with particular attention to class, racialization, and diasporic belonging.

Martin holds an MSc in Urban Planning from the London School of Economics and a BA in Politics from Bates College. His academic writing includes a forthcoming article in Political Geography. He has also contributed essays and reportage on urban politics, migration, and Zionism/anti-Zionism to Vittles, Vashti, Jewish Currents, Haaretz, and The Wick. In addition to his research and writing, Martin has worked in marketing and technology, advising startups on content strategy and communication.

Research

Thesis title: 'Our Golden Calf: Haredi Jews and the Decline of Zionism, Liberalism, and the Secular World'

This research analyses how Hasidic Jewish communities in Stamford Hill, London—and across the global diaspora—respond to the unraveling of the liberal, secular, and nationalist world they have long resisted. Through flashpoints around planning extensions in the UK, bike lanes in Brooklyn, and resistance to military conscription in Israel, it examines how these communities strategically engage with the modern state, urban governance, and neighboring groups—sometimes partnering, sometimes resisting—often without aligning with dominant ideologies or liberal norms. Their position responds to broader global shifts, including the rise of the ethno-nationalist right and the anti-colonialist left. This insular religious community offers a powerful lens through which to view the breakdown of the Western political order—and the forces now competing to replace it.

Research interests

• Diaspora, migration, and colonialism
• Urban politics and gentrification
• Zionism, anti-Zionism, and religious nationalism
• Language, identity, and sociolinguistics
• Political economy
• Qualitative and ethnographic research methods

PhD supervision

• Principal supervisor: Professor Phil Hubbard
• Secondary supervisor: Professor Adam Sutcliffe

Further details

See Martin's research profile