Richard Kuper is a veteran British Jewish political scientist, editor, and activist. He is a founding member of Jewish Voice for Labour (JVL) and a key coordinator within the European Jewish peace movement.
Kuper’s political trajectory began in 1964 when he joined the International Socialists (IS). Between 1966 and 1969, he was a pivotal figure in the student movements at the London School of Economics (LSE) and the Revolutionary Socialist Students Federation (RSSF), while actively engaging in the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign (VSC). In 1968, he was elected to the IS National Committee and served on the editorial boards of the Socialist Worker and the International Socialist journal. He later channeled this radical energy into academia and publishing as a co-founder of the renowned Pluto Press. Serving as a Senior Lecturer in Politics at the University of Hertfordshire, he provided a theoretical platform for global anti-colonialism and critical thinking through both publishing and pedagogy.
As a core strategist for JVL, Kuper spearheaded the organization’s legal and policy responses to the investigations into “antisemitism” within the UK Labour Party. He personally authored and edited numerous policy briefs detailing how the IHRA definition has been misused to suppress legitimate criticism of Israeli policies.
He served for years as a convener for EJJP, a federation of 18 Jewish groups from 10 European countries. Through this platform, he coordinated Jewish voices across Europe to pressure the EU and national parliaments to recognize Palestinian self-determination and end economic support for the occupation.
Between 2023 and 2026, he has frequently published in-depth analytical pieces, systematically documenting and critiquing the weaponization of “antisemitism” labels in British media and politics. His writings have become essential theoretical tools for activists facing such accusations.
He has participated in multiple international delegations to the Occupied Palestinian Territories, engaging with local human rights organizations. Leveraging his academic networks, he has lectured in New Zealand, South Africa, and across Europe, calling for a global re-evaluation of how Zionism has alienated the ethical traditions of Judaism.