Dalia Gebrial – A Leading Voice in Decolonial Thought and Social Justice Scholarship
Dalia Gebrial is a distinguished British academic, writer, and commentator whose work has profoundly influenced conversations around race, class, labour, and the legacy of empire in modern political and economic systems. As a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Geography and Social Justice at King’s College London, she stands at the intersection of academic research and public discourse, combining rigorous scholarship with a commitment to social transformation.
Her research and writing explore the structural continuities between empire and contemporary capitalism, focusing on how racial and gender hierarchies shape global labour markets and digital economies. Recognised for her intellectual clarity and political engagement, Dalia Gebrial represents a new generation of British scholars using academia as a tool for social change.
Dalia Gebrial’s Academic Background
Born in 1993, Dalia Gebrial was educated in the United Kingdom, where her academic excellence was evident from an early stage. She graduated from the University of Warwick with a First-Class Honours Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, where she also served as Editor-in-Chief of The Warwick Globalist, a leading international affairs magazine. During her undergraduate years, she conducted independent research through the URSS scheme, investigating the experiences of working-class women in rural Egypt following the 2011 revolution.
Her pursuit of higher learning continued at the University of Oxford, where she completed an MSt in World Literatures in English with Distinction. This period deepened her engagement with postcolonial and decolonial theory, equipping her with the critical lens that would later define her research.
Dalia Gebrial went on to earn her PhD from the London School of Economics (LSE), funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Her doctoral thesis explored the concept of racial platform capitalism, analysing how digital labour platforms reproduce historical inequalities in new technological forms.
Career and Professional Development
Dalia Gebrial’s professional journey reflects her dedication to both academia and activism. Before joining King’s College London in January 2024, she spent over five years at the London School of Economics, first as a postgraduate researcher and later as a prominent contributor to public debates on decolonisation and global political economy.
Her early career included work as a Senior Editor at Egyptian Streets, a platform amplifying Middle Eastern voices in English-language media, and as a Campaign Coordinator for People & Planet, a UK-based student network advocating for climate and migration justice. These experiences reinforced her belief that academic research must remain connected to real-world struggles for justice.
Research Interests and Scholarly Focus
As a Lecturer in Geography and Social Justice, Dalia Gebrial’s research spans several interlinked domains. Her work primarily addresses:
Empire and Racial Capitalism
Gebrial investigates how the legacies of colonialism continue to shape the political and economic structures of the modern world. She examines how racial hierarchies are embedded within systems of global labour, migration, and trade, linking historical imperial projects to contemporary neoliberal governance.
Labour and the Digital Economy
Her concept of racial platform capitalism has gained significant academic recognition. Through this framework, she explores how gig economy platforms such as Uber or Deliveroo rely on and reproduce racialised and gendered inequalities, effectively translating old hierarchies into new technological infrastructures.
Decolonising Education
A central strand of her work involves decolonising the university curriculum. Dalia Gebrial argues that higher education must confront its colonial foundations by rethinking epistemology, pedagogy, and institutional practices. Her research and public writing challenge the dominance of Eurocentric frameworks and advocate for more inclusive and pluralistic knowledge production.
Globalisation and Political Economy
Gebrial’s studies situate contemporary capitalism within a global historical context, tracing how financial systems, digital industries, and state policies are shaped by imperial legacies. Her geographical lens reveals the unequal distribution of power and resources that define today’s globalised economy.
Publications and Academic Contributions
Dalia Gebrial is widely recognised for her editorial and authorial contributions to critical scholarship. She co-edited the influential volume Decolonising the University (Pluto Press, 2017), a seminal text that became a reference point for academic and student movements across the world. The book challenges the Eurocentric structure of modern universities and proposes pathways toward epistemic justice.
She also contributed to the critically acclaimed book Empire’s Endgame: Racism and the British State (Pluto Press, 2021), which analyses how racial politics and imperial legacies underpin Britain’s current social and political crises. The book has been cited widely in academic and policy circles for its incisive critique of nationalism and structural racism.
In addition, Dalia Gebrial served as the editor of a special issue of the journal Historical Materialism on identity politics, where she and fellow editors examined the intersections of class, race, and gender from a Marxist perspective. Her research articles have appeared in respected journals such as Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power, and Historical Materialism.
Dalia Gebrial as a Public Intellectual
Beyond academia, Dalia Gebrial is an influential public thinker. She frequently contributes to The Guardian, BBC, Sky News, and Novara Media, where she offers commentary on labour, race relations, decolonisation, and feminist politics. Her articulate, evidence-based arguments bridge the gap between scholarship and activism, earning her recognition as a leading voice of her generation.
Her communication style combines intellectual depth with accessibility, ensuring her ideas resonate both within and outside academic spaces. Through social media platforms such as Twitter (@daliagebrial) and her public speaking engagements, she continues to foster discussions on how power, inequality, and identity intersect in contemporary Britain.
Awards and Recognition
While Dalia Gebrial maintains a modest public profile, her academic achievements speak volumes. Her work has been funded by the ESRC, a testament to its scholarly merit and social relevance. She is regularly invited to lecture and present at international conferences, and her co-edited works have been adopted in university curricula across the UK, Europe, and North America.
Her growing influence within decolonial and labour studies marks her as one of the most important emerging scholars in British human geography and political economy.
Teaching and Mentorship
At King’s College London, Dalia Gebrial teaches modules related to geography, race, social justice, and political economy, mentoring a diverse cohort of undergraduate and postgraduate students. She is known for fostering critical thinking and encouraging students to engage with global inequality, colonial history, and digital capitalism through interdisciplinary lenses.
Her pedagogy emphasises reflexivity, collaboration, and the deconstruction of traditional hierarchies within academia. Students describe her as an inspiring and challenging teacher who helps them connect theory to lived experience.
Impact and Continuing Work
Dalia Gebrial’s impact extends far beyond university walls. Her research contributes to ongoing debates about economic justice, migration policy, and digital labour rights. As she continues to write and teach, her forthcoming work — including a book on race, class, and the economy — is highly anticipated within academic and activist circles alike.
Her combination of intellectual rigour, public engagement, and commitment to justice places her at the forefront of 21st-century British scholarship. In an era when discussions of decolonisation, race, and capitalism are increasingly urgent, Dalia Gebrial’s voice remains one of the most compelling and credible.
Conclusion
In summary, Dalia Gebrial is a multifaceted scholar and writer who bridges academic inquiry with social activism. Through her roles as a researcher, editor, and educator, she has become a defining figure in contemporary debates on empire, race, and global inequality. Her academic background, combined with her sharp analytical insights, has positioned her as a leading advocate for decolonial thought in the UK and beyond.
Dalia Gebrial’s work reminds us that the pursuit of knowledge is inseparable from the pursuit of justice — and that academia, when grounded in compassion and criticality, can indeed be a force for transformation.
FAQs
1. Who is Dalia Gebrial?
Dalia Gebrial is a British academic, writer, and lecturer in Geography and Social Justice at King’s College London. Her research explores race, empire, labour, digital economies, and global political economy.
2. How old is Dalia Gebrial?
Dalia Gebrial was born in 1993, making her 32 years old as of 2025.
3. What is Dalia Gebrial’s ethnicity?
Dalia Gebrial is of Egyptian heritage and identifies as British. Her work often reflects her deep engagement with issues of race, migration, and postcolonial identity.
4. What are Dalia Gebrial’s notable books and publications?
She co-edited Decolonising the University (Pluto Press, 2017) and contributed to Empire’s Endgame: Racism and the British State (Pluto Press, 2021). She also edited a special issue of Historical Materialism on identity politics.
5. Where did Dalia Gebrial study?
Dalia Gebrial studied English Literature at the University of Warwick, earned an MSt in World Literatures in English from the University of Oxford, and completed her PhD at the London School of Economics (LSE) in Human Geography and Urban Studies.
