- Brazil, Africa, Comparative Politics, Security, Brazil and Africa, International Relations, and 31 moreSouth Atlantic Defense and Security, Brazilian Foreign policy, International Security, Defense and Strategic Studies, Defense, Guinea-Bissau, African Security Studies, Security Communities, Lusophone Africa, Atlântico Sul, Atlantic World, ZOPACAS, South Atlantic Relations, Atlántico Sur, Foreign Policy Analysis, International Studies, Relações Internacionais, Brasil, Namibia, Defence and Strategic Studies, Regional Security, International Relations, Rising Powers, Military Strategies, Security Studies, Security & Conflict Resolution Public Policy Governance/Capacity Building/Civil Service Reform Globalization, Rising Powers, Security Sector Reform/Security Governance, Military/Defence Diplomacy, Portuguese Foreign Policy, Estudos de Defesa, Brazilian defence and security, and Maritime Security Governanceedit
- I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Center for International Studies (CEI-IUL) and a Guest Assistant Professor... moreI am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Center for International Studies (CEI-IUL) and a Guest Assistant Professor at the University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE-IUL). I hold a PhD in Political Science, with a specialization in International Relations, from the Institute of Social Sciences, University of Lisbon (ICS-ULisboa), based on my research over defense cooperation relations between Brazil and African countries in the South Atlantic during the 2003-2014 timeframe. I am also licensed in Law by the Law School of the University of Porto (FDUP) and hold a Masters in Political Science and International Relations, with a specialization in International Relations by the School of Social and Human Sciences, New University of Lisbon (FCSH-UNL).
I was previously a Nuclear Security Fellow at the School of International Relations-Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV), a SUSI Fellow of the US State Department, and a Leibniz-DAAD Research Fellow at the German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA). Between 2013 and 2016, I was also a Visiting Researcher at the Institute of International Relations-University of Brasília, Brazil (IREL-UnB), at the Centre for the Study of Governance Innovation, University of Pretoria, South Africa (GovInn-UP) and at ICS, ULisboa. Previously, I worked as a Researcher at the Portuguese Institute of International Relations and Security (IPRIS).
My main research interests focus on international relations, international security, South Atlantic geopolitics, and security capacity-building in Africa and my publications include book chapters, articles and reports on such topics as well as on Brazilian and Portuguese foreign and defense policy, Africa and Lusophone countries.edit
The role of South–South cooperation in peace and security has prompted new questions about how, and to what extent, these ties differ from responses implemented by traditional donor countries. However, little of this literature has taken... more
The role of South–South cooperation in peace and security has prompted new questions about how, and to what extent, these ties differ from responses implemented by traditional donor countries. However, little of this literature has taken a directly comparative approach, and few studies exist on the role of such cooperation ties in the security domain. This article helps to fill these gaps by contrasting the roles of Portugal and Brazil in capacity-building of the Angolan Armed Forces. Portugal has long held a central role in this domain. However, that centrality has been increasingly challenged by emerging South–South defense cooperation players that claim to offer different approaches. Brazil, in particular, made considerable inroads with Angola in recent years. How has Brazil engaged with the Angolan military, and how does its approach to compare with that of Portugal? We focus on the case study of the Angolan Navy against the backdrop of emerging maritime security issues while addressing the question of whether or not rising powers can break the restricted club of external security providers in Africa.
Research Interests: International Security, Security Studies, Brazil, Angola, Portugal, and 15 moreSouth-south cooperation, Emerging Powers, International Relations, Rising Powers, Military Strategies, International Security Studies, International Security through Defence & Military Cooperation, International Security and Strategic affairs, Rising Powers, South Atlantic Defense and Security, African Security, Brazilian defence and security, Security & Conflict Resolution Public Policy Governance/Capacity Building/Civil Service Reform Globalization, Maritime Security and Cooperation, Security Cooperation, South South Cooperation, Africa, Emerging Countries, and Estudos das Políticas de Defesa
In the broader context of regional studies, the South Atlantic comes across as a singular, yet still understudied case study for the formation, evolution, and regression of security regional-ism dynamics. More so when South Atlantic... more
In the broader context of regional studies, the South Atlantic comes across as a singular, yet still understudied case study for the formation, evolution, and regression of security regional-ism dynamics. More so when South Atlantic countries have come to engage in increased regionally focused interactions through wider defence cooperation ties. However, they have also steadfastly eschewed any kind of permanent structures and shared sovereignty over sensitive security issues. This article strives to ascertain the limits and prospects of these regional security dynamics in the South Atlantic. With the focal points set on both South American and African shores, I pinpoint key overtures in this area and question their contribution to advancing an overall regionalisation process. Despite shared threat perceptions and an absence of major intra-regional conflicts, I argue that South Atlantic security regionalism lacks a stable and permanent structure inasmuch as it lacks real autonomy from the dictums of external regional powers, thus leaving the transatlantic space still in flux.
Research Interests: International Relations, International Security, Security Studies, Brazil, Regionalism, and 34 moreRegional governance, Defence and Security, Regional Security, Brazil and Africa, Brasil, Brazilian Foreign policy, International and Regional security studies, Relações Internacionais, International Relations, Rising Powers, Military Strategies, Politica Externa brasileira no governo lula, International cooperation, regional integration, security and peace studies, Estudos de Defesa, Defesa Estratégica, Segurança Estratégica, Segurança Externa, Segurança Interna, Segurança Pública, Gestão Estratégica Internacional, Sistema Interestatal, Guerras e Conflitos, Poder, Ciência Política, Sociologia, Antropologia., Emerging powers of Global South: Rising BRICS Countries, Security Communities, Regional security complex, Regional Defense Strategies, International Security through Defence & Military Cooperation, Política Externa Brasileira, Rising Powers, South Atlantic Defense and Security, South Atlantic Relations, Estudos de Defesa, Brazilian defence and security, Security & Regionalism, International Relations and Regional Security, ZOPACAS, Atlântico Sul, Foreign & Security/Defense Mulltilevel Governance, Gulf of Guinea, Atlántico Sur, Maritime Security and Cooperation, Política de Defesa, Estudos das Políticas de Defesa, and Livros Brancos de Defesa
In this article, we analyse an instance of revitalisation of a dormant interregional organisation dating back to the Cold War: the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic (ZOPACAS), initially launched by South American and... more
In this article, we analyse an instance of revitalisation of a dormant interregional organisation dating back to the Cold War: the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic (ZOPACAS), initially launched by South American and African states in 1986 through the UN General Assembly. Drawing on the concepts of "consensual hegemony, " we argue that the current phase of ZOPACAS' existence is characterised by Brazil's efforts to rekindle it, thus reflecting its aspiration to create a new space of influence. Rather than pursuing more traditional forms of regional leadership, Brazil uses ZOPACAS as part of a persuasion-based strategy based on regional multilateralism that is designed in antagonism to other international organisations and Western powers. However, this strategy also faces important limitations resulting from resource constraints, lack of institutionalisation and an excessive exclusionary focus on minimising the role of global powers with interests in the region.
Research Interests: International Security, Brazil, Regionalism, Nuclear Non-Proliferation Policy, History of Brazilian Foreign Relations, and 9 moreBrazil and Africa, International and Regional Organization, Brazilian Foreign policy, Emerging Powers, Falklands/Malvinas, Emerging powers of Global South: Rising BRICS Countries, Rising Powers, South Atlantic Defense and Security, and ZOPACAS
This article addresses the nature of transatlantic relations between Brazil and Namibia in the last two decades and argues that, in stark contrast with any other relationship regarding the African continent, Brazil's motivation in... more
This article addresses the nature of transatlantic relations between Brazil and Namibia in the last two decades and argues that, in stark contrast with any other relationship regarding the African continent, Brazil's motivation in deepening ties with Namibia was largely built upon an extensive military-to-military cooperation partnership. By focusing on long-standing bureaucratic interests, the article demonstrates how Brazilian–Namibian relations were driven over the years by strategic affinities, business opportunities made available by the security sectors of both countries and, more recently, growing concerns over the sovereignty of their respective maritime areas in tandem with renewed interest for security developments within the South Atlantic region.
Research Interests: International Relations, International Security, Brazilian Studies, Atlantic World, Security Studies, and 30 moreBrazil, Brazil and Africa, Brasil, Brazilian Foreign policy, South-south cooperation, Namibian history, Relações Internacionais, Namibia, International Relations, Rising Powers, Military Strategies, Segurança Internacional, Política Externa, Defence and Strategic Studies, Politica Externa brasileira no governo lula, Estudos de Defesa, Defesa Estratégica, Segurança Estratégica, Segurança Externa, Segurança Interna, Segurança Pública, Gestão Estratégica Internacional, Sistema Interestatal, Guerras e Conflitos, Poder, Ciência Política, Sociologia, Antropologia., Emerging powers of Global South: Rising BRICS Countries, Namibian Studies, International Security through Defence & Military Cooperation, Política Externa Brasileira, Global Political Economy, African political economy, Africa's external relations, Brazil-Africa Relations, Rising Powers, South Atlantic Defense and Security, South Atlantic Relations, Estudos de Defesa, Brazilian defence and security, Atlântico Sul, Defesa e Segurança, Estudos das Políticas de Defesa, Africa and rising powers, and Segurança e Defesa
Due to an extensive historical-maritime tradition, Portugal has long considered the South Atlantic as an ocean of possibilities for the projection of its envisioned influence in the near abroad. This article, however, seeks to analyse how... more
Due to an extensive historical-maritime tradition, Portugal has long considered the South Atlantic as an ocean of possibilities for the projection of its envisioned influence in the near abroad. This article, however, seeks to analyse how such claims fit new security developments in the South Atlantic. It begins by briefly assessing the current main threats in the South Atlantic, followed by a review of Portugal’s strategic guide- lines and perceptions towards this same area. The preferred venues for the fulfilment of the country ́s Atlantic expectations are then addressed by means of Portuguese technical-military co-operation with Lusophone African countries and Portuguese attempts to make NATO look southwards. The country’s overall goals are contrasted with the unique positioning of Brazil towards the South Atlantic, as a token of exist- ing perspectives not entirely coincident with Portugal’s own aims. Some final remarks are then drawn regarding the sustainability of these expectations and the need to calibrate them in light of an evolving security context in South Atlantic waters.
Research Interests: International Relations, Atlantic World, Luso-Africa, Portugal, Maritime Security, and 20 moreRelações Internacionais, Segurança Internacional, Política Externa, NATO's New Strategic Concept, Portuguese Foreign Policy, Estudos de Defesa, Defesa Estratégica, Segurança Estratégica, Segurança Externa, Segurança Interna, Segurança Pública, Gestão Estratégica Internacional, Sistema Interestatal, Guerras e Conflitos, Poder, Ciência Política, Sociologia, Antropologia., International Security through Defence & Military Cooperation, Lusophone Africa, South Atlantic Defense and Security, Politica Externa Portuguesa, South Atlantic Relations, Estudos de Defesa, ZOPACAS, Atlântico Sul, Estudos De Políticas Externas, Golfo Da Guiné, Defesa e Segurança, Estudos das Políticas de Defesa, PALOP, and Segurança e Defesa
Esta análise oferece uma perspetiva comparada das diferentes orientações estratégicas publicadas pelo Brasil na última década, com implicações ao nível do sector de defesa. O objetivo último consiste em identificar alterações... more
Esta análise oferece uma perspetiva comparada das diferentes orientações estratégicas publicadas pelo Brasil na última década, com implicações ao nível do sector de defesa. O objetivo último consiste em identificar alterações concretas recentes no planeamento estratégico brasileiro que sustentem a pretensão oficial de uma aproximação crescente entre os propósitos das políticas externa e de defesa nacionais.
Research Interests: Brasil, Estudos Estratégicos, Relações Internacionais, Estrategia, Segurança Internacional, and 10 morePolitica Externa brasileira no governo lula, Estudos de Defesa, Defesa Estratégica, Segurança Estratégica, Segurança Externa, Segurança Interna, Segurança Pública, Gestão Estratégica Internacional, Sistema Interestatal, Guerras e Conflitos, Poder, Ciência Política, Sociologia, Antropologia., Estratégia, Política Externa Brasileira, Estudos de Defesa, Defesa e Segurança, Política de Defesa, Estudos das Políticas de Defesa, Livros Brancos de Defesa, and Segurança e Defesa
Brazil’s rapprochement with Africa during the last decade has been mostly explained as an attempt to improve political dialogue, raise economic interactions, and provide technical cooperation assistance. This article, however, argues that... more
Brazil’s rapprochement with Africa during the last decade has been mostly explained as an attempt to improve political dialogue, raise economic interactions, and provide technical cooperation assistance. This article, however, argues that such framework does not sufficiently account for the use of Brazilian material resources in order to attain harder strategic goals towards the continent. By focusing on defense cooperation ties, it highlights an important niche in South- South relations that has also grown exponentially, with important consequences on how Brazil exerts power across the Atlantic.
Research Interests: International Relations, International Security, Atlantic World, Security Studies, Brazil, and 23 moreAngola, Power relations, Brazil and Africa, South Africa, Brasil, Brazilian Foreign policy, Poder, State Power, Soft Power, Hard Power, Namibia, International Relations, Rising Powers, Military Strategies, Politica Externa brasileira no governo lula, Estudos de Defesa, Defesa Estratégica, Segurança Estratégica, Segurança Externa, Segurança Interna, Segurança Pública, Gestão Estratégica Internacional, Sistema Interestatal, Guerras e Conflitos, Poder, Ciência Política, Sociologia, Antropologia., Emerging powers of Global South: Rising BRICS Countries, International Security through Defence & Military Cooperation, Rising Powers, South Atlantic Defense and Security, South Atlantic Relations, ZOPACAS, Defesa e Segurança, Política de Defesa, Estudos das Políticas de Defesa, Africa and rising powers, and Segurança e Defesa
Este artículo examina la creciente preocupación de la comunidad internacional por las nuevas dinámicas de seguridad que se están gestando en el Atlántico Sur y el potencial ascenso de esta área en la agenda internacional de... more
Este artículo examina la creciente preocupación de la comunidad internacional por las nuevas dinámicas de seguridad que se están gestando en el Atlántico Sur y el potencial ascenso de esta área en la agenda internacional de seguridad. Sobre la base de viejas y nuevas amenazas con el telón de fondo del interés manifestado por países como Brasil y Estados Unidos hacia esta área específica, y haciendo hincapié en los intereses político-estratégicos de estos dos países en África, este texto ofrece una visión pertinente del contexto actual de seguridad, desde las posibilidades de competir a las oportunidades de cooperar entre todos los actores políticos involucrados.
Research Interests: International Relations, International Security, Security, Africa, Security Studies, and 31 moreBrazil, Defence and Security, Regional Security, Brazil and Africa, Brasil, USA Foreign Policy in Africa, Relaciones Internacionales, United States, Seguridad Internacional, International Relations, Rising Powers, Military Strategies, International Security Studies, International Relations and Security, US-Africa Relations, Security and Defence Studies, Seguridad Y Defensa, International cooperation, regional integration, security and peace studies, International Security through Defence & Military Cooperation, International Security and Strategic affairs, Rise of Maritime Security Off Africa, South Atlantic Defense and Security, South Atlantic Relations, Brazilian defence and security, International Relations and Regional Security, ZOPACAS, Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea, Atlântico Sul, Foreign & Security/Defense Mulltilevel Governance, Gulf of Guinea, Atlántico Sur, Maritime Security and Cooperation, and Zona de Paz e Cooperação no Atlântico Sul (ZOPACAS)
This article will examine the framework of Japan’s current engagement with the African continent and more specifically with Lusophone Africa, trying to understand how this relationship – or lack thereof – has evolved up to the present... more
This article will examine the framework of Japan’s current engagement with the African continent and more specifically with Lusophone Africa, trying to understand how this relationship – or lack thereof – has evolved up to the present day. In order to establish the required context, we will look at the magnitude of Japan’s international aid commitments as well as its renewed interest in the development of the continent over recent years. Using the last decade as an indicative timeframe, we can then focus on the relationship between Japan and the Lusophone African countries, with a specific focus on aid receptiveness but also including other vectors such as political and economic relations with each other. Finally, conclusions will be drawn as for Japan’s actual insertion in these countries and the sustainability of its approach in the coming future, with implications for Japanese overall strategy in the rest of the continent.
Research Interests: International Relations, Japan, Japanese Foreign Policy, Japanese Cooperation, Japan-Foreign Relations, and 10 moreGlobal Political Economy, African political economy, Africa's external relations, Lusophone Africa, African International Affairs, TICAD, Japanese Foreign and Defense Policy, Japan and Africa, Japanese-Foreigners Relations, Relations between Japan and Africa, Luso-Japanese relations, and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Research Interests: Brasil, Relações Internacionais, Política Externa, Politica Externa brasileira no governo lula, Afro-Brazilian and African-American studies, and 5 morePolítica Externa Brasileira, Política Externa do Governo Lula, Política Externa Brasileira No Governo DIlma, Brasil Africa, and Política Externa do Brasil
The story of Brazil’s engagement in Africa is not necessarily novel, but its security activities on the continent still are. Often presented as by-products of the new South–South relations, they have resulted in substantial inroads... more
The story of Brazil’s engagement in Africa is not necessarily novel, but its security activities on the continent still are. Often presented as by-products of the new South–South relations, they have resulted in substantial inroads towards the increased security capacity of several key countries. However, economic constraints, an unpredictable political context back home, and previously existing structural fragilities have led to a new, bleaker outlook for Brazil’s position in Africa.
Research Interests: International Relations, International Security, Brazilian Studies, Security Studies, Defence and Security, and 28 moreBrazil and Africa, Brasil, Brazilian Foreign policy, International and Regional security studies, Relações Internacionais, International Relations, Rising Powers, Military Strategies, Defence and Strategic Studies, Security and Defence Studies, Defense and Strategic Studies, International cooperation, regional integration, security and peace studies, Estudos de Defesa, Defesa Estratégica, Segurança Estratégica, Segurança Externa, Segurança Interna, Segurança Pública, Gestão Estratégica Internacional, Sistema Interestatal, Guerras e Conflitos, Poder, Ciência Política, Sociologia, Antropologia., Emerging powers of Global South: Rising BRICS Countries, International Security through Defence & Military Cooperation, Política Externa Brasileira, Rise of Maritime Security Off Africa, South Atlantic Defense and Security, South Atlantic Relations, Estudos de Defesa, Brazilian defence and security, International Relations and Regional Security, ZOPACAS, Atlântico Sul, Maritime Security and Cooperation, Defesa e Segurança, Política de Defesa, Estudos das Políticas de Defesa, Zona de Paz e Cooperação no Atlântico Sul (ZOPACAS), and Segurança e Defesa
Since independence, Portuguese–Angolan relations have been constrained by their historical past and by Angola’s own internal vicissitudes. However, the end of Angola’s civil war in 2002, and the stability and national reconciliation... more
Since independence, Portuguese–Angolan relations have been constrained by their historical past and by Angola’s own internal vicissitudes. However, the end of Angola’s civil war in 2002, and the stability and national reconciliation process that followed, marked the start of a visible mutual effort in advancing the bilateral relationship. Although some past issues have been left unresolved, regular political contact between both countries’ authorities has supported an increased rapprochement and created new opportunities for bilateral engagement. Wide co-operation avenues, an overall co-ordination in terms of foreign policy and extensive economic and trade ties have embedded the present strategic partnership in both countries’ foreign priorities. In turn, this has also strengthened Portugal’s position in withstanding competition from other international suitors in Angola.
Research Interests: International Relations, Post-Conflict Reconstruction in Angola, Politics in Lusophone Africa, Angola, Portugal, and 11 moreCPLP, Relações Internacionais, Política Externa, Portuguese Foreign Policy, Angolan politics, Lusophone Africa, Politica Externa Portuguesa, Estudos De Políticas Externas, Análise De Política Externa, Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa (CPLP), and Portugal em África
Research Interests:
Research Interests: NATO, Brazil, Portugal, Brasil, Brazilian Foreign policy, and 19 moreRelações Internacionais, NATO's New Strategic Concept, Portuguese Foreign Policy, Politica Externa brasileira no governo lula, Estudos de Defesa, Defesa Estratégica, Segurança Estratégica, Segurança Externa, Segurança Interna, Segurança Pública, Gestão Estratégica Internacional, Sistema Interestatal, Guerras e Conflitos, Poder, Ciência Política, Sociologia, Antropologia., Política Externa Brasileira, South Atlantic Defense and Security, Politica Externa Portuguesa, OTAN, South Atlantic Relations, Estudos de Defesa, Atlântico Sul, Portugal E Brasil, Conceito Estratégico Nacional, Defesa e Segurança, Política de Defesa, Estudos das Políticas de Defesa, Conceito Estratégico, and Segurança e Defesa
Research Interests:
Qualquer tentativa de abordar as relações político-diplomáticas entre Portugal e África esbarra numa carga histórica ainda bastante presente. O desafio revela-se particularmente assinalável atendendo à natureza duma relação tão complexa... more
Qualquer tentativa de abordar as relações político-diplomáticas entre Portugal e África esbarra numa carga histórica ainda bastante presente. O desafio revela-se particularmente assinalável atendendo à natureza duma relação tão complexa quão prolífica em anúncios, visitas e retórica. Mas por entre este contexto multifacetado, que intervenientes ditaram de facto o curso dos desenvolvimentos? Que temáticas dominaram a agenda? E que resultados foram efetivamente alcançados nos últimos anos? Este capítulo visa explorar a política externa portuguesa para a África Subsariana no pós-1975, recorrendo a três vetores de análise: lusófono, extra-lusófono e europeu. O enfoque incide tanto em avanços como em retrocessos, por forma a mapear as principais interações e preencher assim uma lacuna no estudo das relações externas de Portugal.