Benjamin's research focuses on exploratory macro-causal comparisons and case studies, designed to generate new, durable theoretical insights. His approach fuse these macro-level approaches with in-depth investigative within-case methods, with a specialism in the analysis of ethnographic interviews and archival sources. His research covers the following topics:

Revolutions

Benjamin's research on revolutions has answered questions such as: how the shape of revolutionary coalitions prefigures revolutionary outcomes; how revolutionary waves initiate new protests elsewhere; and how revolutionary movements demobilise after contentious conflicts. He has also recently published two articles on the analysis of revolutionary processes and programmes, in collaboration with the political theorist John Dunn.

Mass Mobilisation

Benjamin's last major research project was on 'mobilisation beyond the movement': instances of spontaneous mass mobilization, carried out by people who are neither members nor affiliates of organized movements. The project developed an entirely new model of mass mobilization: the Affinity-Convergence Model of Mobilization. Benjamin is currently preparing a monograph, based on this project, under the working title: "Beyond the Movement.” 

Resistance Movements

Benjamin is the Principal Investigator on the 'Resistance to Populism' project, a Leverhulme funded research fellowship. This comparative project explores how modern societies respond to and resist the rise of populist regimes. The project’s first output – Theorizing Resistance Movements was presented at the 2018 Millennium conference.

Journal

Benjamin is editor in chief of Contention: The Multidisciplinary Journal of Social Protest.