Specialising in international political economy, systems theory, sustainable development and urban agriculture.  Has been a member of DPU staff since 1997-8, having previously taught at School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and Birkbeck College.  He now works part-time, teaching on the Masters course in Environment and Sustainable Development, directed by Adriana Allen.   His book The New Imperialism (2000) dealt with structural issues in North-South relations and has been translated (in a new revised edition in 2007) into Arabic and Spanish.  His latest book The Entropy of Capitalism (Leiden: Brill, 2012) proposes a novel  synthesis between systems theory and political economy.  As a practitioner of low-input agriculture as well as an activist in the Transition Towns movements, Robert is particularly interested in how the crisis can act as a trigger for a new community resilience.  Together with Yves Cabannes, Robert has played a role within the DPU's funded research, consultancy and teaching on the issue of urban agriculture.