Research

Books

Burges, S., & Chagas-Bastos, F. H. Brazil Beyond Tradition: The Tumultuous Path of Dismantling Foreign Policy in the Bolsonaro Era. Manchester: Manchester University Press

What do the dramatic reversals of long-standing policies and traditions during Jair Bolsonaro's presidency reveal about foreign policy-making in Brazil, and what broader insights can this case provide for policy analysis? Using a policy dismantling framework, this book examines the driving causes, conditions, and strategies behind unprecedented policy changes under Bolsonaro. The findings show how shifts in the preferences of key policymakers interacted with institutional constraints and broader contextual forces, ultimately limiting Bolsonaro’s ability to achieve radical policy reforms. This analysis not only clarifies the boundaries of policy dismantling but also offers actionable insights into the dynamics of policy change in other contexts.

Villa, R., Chagas-Bastos, F. H., Carvalho, T., & Braga, C. Security Governance in Latin America. Manchester: Manchester University Press

We challenge the prevailing assumption that balance of power (BoP) and security communities (SC) are mutually exclusive paradigms for regional security governance. Traditionally, BoP and SC have been construed as dichotomous frameworks: states either engage in competitive power balancing or form cooperative security alliances. This binary perspective, however, oversimplifies the complexities of state interactions. Our argument is that these frameworks fail to adequately capture the intricacies of regional security dynamics. Instead, we propose a more nuanced model that recognises the emergence of hybrid security governance in Latin America, where elements of cooperation and conflict have coexisted since independence in the nineteenth century. This hybrid approach incorporates aspects of both BoP and SC mechanisms, offering a more accurate understanding of the region’s security governance. It also explains why, despite the persistence of violence as a strategic option, inter-state conflict has virtually disappeared in the region and a strong norm complex has been built amidst conflict and threats of militarised disputes.

Chagas-Bastos, F. H., & Cereda, F. Democracy by Invitation: The Influence of Foreign Actors on Portugal’s Democratic Transition (1974-1986). London: Bloomsbury

The book analyses Portugal's transition from authoritarianism to democracy, emphasising the balance between domestic initiatives and international influences in shaping a democratic polity. It highlights the critical role of European actors in supporting this process, underscoring the importance of external factors in consolidating democratic governance. Our argument challenges the traditional view that domestic elites alone explain Portugal’s democratic success, instead arguing for a broader understanding of the influence of foreign actors in the country’s return to and consolidation of democracy between 1975 and 1986.