He received his BA, M.Phil and Ph.D from the University of Cambridge. He has been living and studying in Mexico since for nearly fifteen years. He is an expert on contemporary Mexican politics and has published two books and an edited volume on the subject. He has also published many academic articles on varied subjects including indigenous politics, elections, taxation, healthcare, and the Catholic church. He is currently writing a book on the history of the Mexican press and another on the history of the drug trade. He writes on modern Mexico in Dissent, the Guardian, and Nexos magazine.