Topic of thesis: UN peace operations, local peoples and legitimacy - implications and pathways for peace and democracy
Abstract: United Nations peace operations have increasingly gained political relevance over the past years, especially after the end of the Cold War, when globalisation and its impacts have intensified. Although they represent an important progress in the global governance mechanisms to promote peace and support societies plagued by violent conflicts and mass human rights violations, there is an important and growing literature which points out the limitations, problems and even dangers of the authority present in the international institutions and mechanisms behind them.
In this context, my research aims to comprehend to what extent UN peace operations are accountable to local populations, if they respect and guarantee democratic procedures in the countries in which they intervene, analysing the relationship of these operations with local peoples, and the consequent implications for their legitimacy and ability to actually contribute to peacebuilding. It is based on an extensive literature review and in one case study, of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (Minustah). With the insights developed by this case study and comparative analysis with other cases, I aim to critically analyse and possibly challenge assumptions of the existing literature, bringing new contributions to this important field of study.
Research Interests: Peacebuilding and democratisation in developing and postcolonial countries; global governance; political legitimacy; postcolonialism 
Graduated from: Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (BA); University of the Basque Country (MA)
Degrees obtained: BA in International Relations, MA in International Studies
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