Research
Solidarity and Exile in Latin America: Experiences of forced migration and transnational solidarity activism
My research examines transnational solidarity networks and exile experiences in the context of Latin American dictatorships, with a particular focus on Chile during the Pinochet dictatorship (1973-1990). This project explores the strategies and motivations of both exiles and grassroots activists in opposing authoritarian regimes, analysing how distant political realities were translated and made relevant to local contexts. A key aspect of this research is investigating how Latin American exiles and their allies, especially within solidarity networks, drew parallels between events in Chile and local political concerns to inspire high-risk forms of solidarity activism, such as boycotts. This approach provides insights into the complex interplay between transnational activism, exile politics, and local political cultures, emphasising Latin American agency in shaping these networks.
The project also encompasses broader themes of exile, human rights, and memory politics in Cold War Latin America. It analyses the experiences of Chilean exiles, their migration trajectories, and their crucial role in shaping solidarity movements abroad. Additionally, I explore how exile and solidarity are memorialised and how these memories continue to influence contemporary political debates. While initially centred on Chile and the UK, my research is expanding to include other Latin American countries (particularly Brazil and Argentina) and their connections with various European contexts. This comparative approach aims to develop a more nuanced understanding of transnational solidarity networks, exile experiences, and the legacy of Cold War era activism in Latin America and Europe.
Art, Activism, and the Archive: Collaborative Explorations of Cultural Resistance in Latin America
This research project examines grassroots cultural resistance during the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile through the digitisation and analysis of the Centro Cultural Tallersol archive. Tallersol, a collective of artists and activists, resisted the regime's repression by creating spaces for cultural freedom. The archive's digitisation, funded by the Modern Endangered Archives Program, enables collaborative research on networks of cultural resistance under Latin American dictatorships. The project pioneers research on Tallersol's activities, establishes networks for community-based archiving, and forges academic-activist partnerships through participatory research strategies. Building on previous research on opposition to Latin American dictatorships, it emphasises the role of cultural expressions, particularly graphic art, in understanding repression and opposition dynamics. By exploring this heritage and fostering public engagement, the project advances knowledge of grassroots opposition in Chile from the late 1970s, shedding light on cultural strategies and social networks that have been challenging to research due to their ephemeral nature and the dangerous conditions of their creation.
Brazilian foreign policy and international relations in Latin America
This research project examines Brazilian foreign policy through the lens of non-traditional foreign policy issues such as environmental and climate change policy, human rights, and democracy. The first paper for this project was published in 2016 (open access) Brazil and the International Politics of Climate Change: Leading by Example?. Another strand of this research project focuses on the human rights dimensions of climate change and renewable energy in Brazil, in particular on hydro-electric dams. My article "The International Human Rights Discourse as a Strategic Focus in Socio-Environmental Conflicts: The Case of Hydro-Electric Dams in Brazil" appeared in the International Journal of Human Rights and a second article (open access) - "Promoting Renewable Energy or Environmental Problems? Environmental Politics and Sustainability in Sino-Brazilian Relations" - in the Journal of China and International Relations.
In May 2011, I appeared as an expert witness at the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee inquiry into UK-Brazil relations. The full report and transcripts can be found on the House of Commons website. A short interview I gave about UK-Brazil relations can be found on World Politics Review.
Research grants
Memories of Resistance: A Digital Archive of Chile’s Graphic Resistance
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (USA)
October 2023 - September 2025
Memories of Cultural Resistance: A Digital Archive of Chile’s Graphic Resistance to Dictatorship
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (USA)
January 2021 - August 2023
Research collaborations
NatCen Social Research
Community-led approaches to reducing poverty: A review of international development evidence and practice
NatCen Social Research
The purpose of this project, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, is to review evidence from international development of community-led poverty reduction approaches, which has the potential to provide a vital resource base that can change the lives of communities living in poverty in the UK today.