Although there is a great tradition at the Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (UAL) – Department of International Relations – and also at the Instituto da Defesa Nacional (IDN), area or regional studies have little development in Portugal.

Thus, UAL and IDN jointly promote a set of five Advanced Courses in Regional Studies for all those interested, including non-graduates, in learning about or deepening their knowledge of the following regions:

Eurasia ++ Latin America ++ Sub-Saharan Africa ++ Asia-Pacific ++ Middle East and Maghreb.

The Courses are entirely autonomous, and candidates can attend just one, several or all of them.

The training takes place at UAL, from March to June 2025, on a weekday for 3.5 hours, between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm or between 6:30 pm and 10:30 pm.

O IDN acolhe, ainda, outras aulas abertas e os alunos poderão participar em conferências temáticas organizadas pelo IDN e/ou pela UAL.

• Students from various cycles of Higher Education, namely in the areas of International Relations, Political Science, History, Sociology, Geography, Economics, Communication Sciences and African Studies
• Members of the Armed Forces and Security Forces and Services
• Public Administration staff, namely from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Internal Administration and the Ministry of Economy
• Senior staff and technicians of Municipal Councils
• Companies focused on internationalization, consulting and risk analysis
• Journalists

The Department of International Relations of the Autonomous University of Lisbon (UAL) and the National Defense Institute (IDN) jointly promote the Advanced Studies Course on EURASIA.

Bringing together a renowned group of experts, this course has the following OBJECTIVES:

• Provide information and reflection on the historical evolution and current dynamics in the vast area that goes from Eastern Europe to Central Asia, namely in the Post-Soviet Space
• Understand the potential and risk factors in Eurasia and characterize the political, economic and socio-cultural situation of the peoples and countries of the region, as well as the interests and strategies of the most relevant resident actors, with emphasis on Russia
• Promote in-depth analysis of the drivers that influence competitive and cooperative behaviors and interactions in Eurasia, in particular involving Russia, the EU, the USA, NATO, Turkey and China.

RESPONSIBLE TEACHERS: Professor Heitor Barras Romana and Professor Sónia Sénica

GUEST SPEAKERS

Andrea Cartney (Sapienza di Roma)
André Matos (Universidade Aberta)
Carlos Gaspar (UAL)
Daniel Pommier Vincelli (Sapienza di Roma)
Gabriele Natalizia (Sapienza di Roma)
Huseyin Bagci (Middle East Technical UniversityMETU e Presidente do Turkish Foreign Policy Institute)
Licínia Simão (FEUC)
Luís Tomé (UAL)
Marcos Farias Ferreira (ISCSP)
Maria Raquel Freire (FEUC)
Patrícia Daenhardt (IDN)
Sandra Fernandes (CICP, UMinho)

CALENDAR: March 10 to June 16, 2025

DURATION: 50 hours / 6 ECTS

HOURS: Mondays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm (daytime) or from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm (after work)

LOCATION: The course is held in person at the facilities of the Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (UAL). Students will be able to participate in thematic conferences in person or online via Zoom organized by UAL and/or IDN.

CURRICULUM PLAN

• Delimitation and conceptualization of Eurasia and subregions: Baltic, Eastern Europe, Black Sea Basin, Caucasus, Caspian Basin and Central Asia
• Historical Evolution: Russia and the Russian Empire; Eurasia and World War I; the Soviet Union and World War II; Eurasia in the Cold War period and the implosion of the USSR
• Characterization of Eurasia today: political regimes; economic situation; energy resources, infrastructures and routes; security agenda and instability factors; “frozen conflicts”.
• Russian Federation: geography and demography; political leadership and “Putinism”; economic dimension and energy; military power and geostrategy; foreign and security policy.
• Other actors and interactions in Eurasia: regional interests and policies of Türkiye, EU, USA, NATO and China; non-state actors; regional organizations; vectors of competition and cooperation in Eurasia.

The courses are taught in person at the Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (UAL). Participants have access to thematic conferences organized by the IDN and/or UAL.

The Department of International Relations of the Autonomous University of Lisbon (UAL), the National Defense Institute (IDN) and the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI) jointly promote the Advanced Course of Studies on LATIN AMERICA.

Bringing together a renowned group of experts, this course has the following OBJECTIVES:

• Know and understand the specificities of Latin America: Historical evolution, regional borders, States and subsystems
• Study the Inter-American System: concept; origins; institutionalization process
• Study and understand regional integration processes
• Identify, study and understand the sources of conflict in the region, disputes between states, and crime
• Promote in-depth analysis of Latin America’s International Relations, with emphasis on Latin America-USA, Latin America-European Union, Latin America-China, Latin America-Africa, and Latin America-Portugal Relations.

RESPONSIBLE TEACHERS: Prof.ª Doutora Nancy Gomes e Prof. Doutor Filipe Vasconcelos Romão

GUEST SPEAKERS

Andrés Malamud (Universidade de Lisboa)
Arturo Oropeza García (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)
Beatriz Padilla (University of South Florida)
Brigida Brito (Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa)
Carmen Fonseca (Universidade Nova de Lisboa)
Daniel Cardoso (Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa)
Eugénio Costa Almeida (Instituto Universitário de Lisboa)
Martin Lienhard (Universidade de Zurich)
Raquel Patrício (Universidade de Lisboa)
Cátia Miriam Costa (ISCTE-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa)
José Freire Nogueira (Instituto de Defesa Nacional)
Ricardo Raposo Lopes (Instituto de Estudos Políticos)
Roberta Stumpf (Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa)
Thiago Gehre Galvão (Universidade de Brasília)
Andrea Imaginario (Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa)
João V. Sousa (Centro de Estudos Internacionais)
Luciano Stremel (Instituto de Desenvolvimento Económico e Social de Fronteiras)
Marcelo Palermo (ISCTE-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa)
Mariano Aguirre (Red Latinoamericana de Seguridad Inclusiva y Sostenible – Friedrich Ebert Foundation)

CALENDAR: March 11 to June 17, 2025

DURATION: 50 hours / 6 ECTS

HOURS: Tuesdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm (daytime) or from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm (after work)

LOCATION: The course is held in person at the facilities of the Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (UAL). Students will be able to participate in thematic conferences in person or online via Zoom organized as part of the activities of the Chair of Ibero-American Studies OEI-UAL.

CURRICULUM PLAN

• The American Continent. The Pre-Columbian Period. The European Impact. Iberian Powers Vs. “New” Powers.
• The Latin American Region. Regional borders and regional states. The various subsystems.
• Historical and political evolution of the Latin American regional system. From colonies to independent states. European dominance. US hegemony. The emergence of new extra-regional actors. Pluralism and “political autonomy” that currently characterize the region.
• The Inter-American System. Concept. Origins. Institutionalization process: advances and setbacks.
• Regional integration processes. ECLAC as an option against Pan-Americanism. The hemispheric alternative to the FTAA. From commercial Mercosur to political UNASUR. The ideological proposal ALBA. CELAC and Bolívar’s dream. The Alliance for the Pacific and the necessary pragmatism. The Forum for the Progress of South America (Prosul).
• Main areas of conflict in the region. The problem of defining and controlling borders. The problem of drug trafficking and arms trafficking. The arms issue. The phenomenon of migration.
• International Relations of Latin America in the 21st Century. Latin America and the USA. Latin America and the European Union. Latin America and China, Latin America and Portugal.

Students will be able to participate in thematic conferences in person or online via zoom organized by UAL and/or IDN and OEI.

For this academic year, and for the fourth consecutive time, the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI) is awarding four scholarships to cover tuition fees. Interested candidates must complete the scholarship application form available by March 7th at https://observare.autonoma.pt/catedra-estudos-americanos/.
https://observare.autonoma.pt/catedra-estudos-americanos/

Candidates will be chosen based on their curricular merit. The jury for evaluating the applications submitted to the competition for the award of these scholarships will be composed of the course coordinator, Professor Nancy Gomes, and the director of the OEI in Portugal, Dr. Ana Paula Laborinho.

The Department of International Relations of the Autonomous University of Lisbon (UAL) and the National Defense Institute (IDN) jointly promote the Advanced Course in Studies on SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA.

Bringing together a renowned group of experts, this course has the following OBJECTIVES:

• Understanding the theoretical and conceptual specificities in the investigation of political dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Acquire a historical understanding of current political, economic and sociocultural dynamics
• Gain an understanding of the role of key African and international actors on the continent
• Understand political dynamics in their sub-regional dimension (Western, Eastern, Central and Southern Sub-Saharan Africa).

RESPONSIBLE TEACHERS: Prof. Doctor Fernando Jorge Cardoso and Prof. Doctor Luís Bernardino

GUEST SPEAKERS

Pedro Seabra (IDN and CEI-ISCTE)

CALENDAR: March 5 to June 18, 2025

OPENING HOURS: Wednesdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm (daytime) or from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm (after work)

LOCATION: The course is held in person, although some sessions may be held online. The in-person course will be held at the Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (UAL). Students will be able to participate in thematic conferences organized by UAL.

CURRICULUM PLAN

• From pre-colonial Africa to the impact of Arab and European expansions

• Africa in the time of European neo-imperialism: from partition to the construction of colonial states

• Transformations imposed by colonial growth and governance models

• On (in)dependence and the construction of neocolonialism

• Development and governance models in Africa during the Cold War period

• Energy crisis and technological changes of the 1970s: deindustrialization and impoverishment

• From the end of the Cold War to the transposition of liberal democracies and neoliberalism in the 1990s

• Return of growth at the turn of the 21st century: renewed dependence on raw materials

• The expansion of new wars and radicalism in the second decade of the 21st century

• The transition from the second to the third decade of the 21st century: problems and challenges in perspective

• Current Security and Defense Dilemmas in Africa

• “The difficult compromise between “African unity”, diversity of interests and geopolitics”?

• From “emerging economies” type industrialization to models of openness and regional integration

• Demographic issues and environmental challenges

The courses are taught in person at the Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (UAL). Participants have access to thematic conferences organized by the IDN and/or UAL.

The Department of International Relations of the Autonomous University of Lisbon (UAL) and the National Defense Institute (IDN) promote, in partnership, the Advanced Course in ASIA-PACIFIC Studies.

Bringing together a renowned group of experts, this course has the following OBJECTIVES:

• Provide information and reflection on the historical evolution and current dynamics in the vast Asia-Pacific area
• Understand the potential and risk factors in the Asia-Pacific and characterize the political, economic and socio-cultural situation of the peoples and countries in the region, as well as the interests and strategies of the most relevant resident actors, with emphasis on China, India, Japan and ASEAN
• Promote in-depth analysis of the drivers that influence competitive and cooperative behaviors and interactions in the region, as well as the policies and relations of the EU, the US and Russia in the Asia-Pacific direction.

RESPONSIBLE TEACHERS: Prof. Doutor Luis Tomé e Prof. Doutor Carlos Gaspar

GUEST SPEAKERS

Álvaro Rosa, ISCTE
Cátia Miriam Costa, ISCTE
Constantino Xavier, Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP) – India
Daniel Cardoso, UAL
Francisco Leandro, University of Macau-China
Mark Beeson, University of Technology – Sydney, Australia
Nuno Canas Mendes, ISCSP
Qamar Cheema, National University of Modern Languages/NUML, Pakistan
Richard Higgot, Brussels School of Governance
Robert Sutter, George Washington University – United States
Rui Feijó, Institute of Contemporary History-UNova
Tiago Vasconcelos, ISCSP and OBSERVARE-UAL
Tosh Minohara, Research Institute for Indo-Pacific Affairs (RIIPA)-Japan
Others to be confirmed

CALENDAR: March 6 to June 12, 2025

DURATION: 50 hours / 6 ECTS

HOURS: Thursdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm (daytime) or from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm (after work)

LOCATION: The course is held in person at the facilities of the Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (UAL). Students will be able to participate in thematic conferences in person or online via Zoom organized by UAL and/or IDN.

Participants in this course have access to the 15-conference series “Europe and Asia: Constructions and Interactions” sponsored by the Eurasia Foundation (from Asia-Japan)

CURRICULUM PLAN

• Delimitation and conceptualization of the Asia-Pacific and sub-regions: South Asia, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania.
• Legado Histórico: a expansão do confucionismo, do hinduísmo e do islamismo; dos impérios indianos e chineses à era colonial e à expansão japonesa; a Guerra do Pacífico; descolonização e Guerra Fria na Ásia-Pacífico
• Characterization of the Asia-Pacific today: political regimes; economic situation; security agenda and factors of instability; multilateralism and regionalism
• Main Actors: interests, potential and policies: China, Japan, ASEAN, North Korea, South Korea, India, Pakistan and Australia. The policies and relations of the USA, Russia and the EU in the Asia-Pacific direction
• Framework of interactions and international system: vectors and factors of competition and cooperation, bilateral and multilateral; axes, partnerships and strategic alignments; characteristics and trends of the Asia-Pacific international system.

The courses are taught in person at the Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (UAL). Participants have access to thematic conferences organized by the IDN and/or UAL.

The Department of International Relations of the Autonomous University of Lisbon (UAL) and the National Defense Institute (IDN) jointly promote the Advanced Studies Course on the MIDDLE EAST AND MAGHREB.

Bringing together a renowned group of experts, this course has the following OBJECTIVES:

• To provide information and reflection on the historical and political evolution of the Middle East and Maghreb Region, through theoretical and practical analysis tools that explore theoretical and conceptual specificities in the investigation of the political, economic and sociocultural dynamics of the region.
• Understand the potential and risk factors in the Middle East and Maghreb region and characterize the political, economic and sociocultural situation of the peoples and countries in the region, as well as the interests and strategies of the most relevant regional and international actors and the external involvement and regional impact of conflicts in the region.
• Promote in-depth analysis of the vectors that influence competitive and cooperative behaviors and interactions in the Middle East and Maghreb region, reflecting on concepts and theories that help to understand the internal and external dynamics of the Middle East and Maghreb region.

RESPONSIBLE TEACHER: Master Paula Pereira

GUEST SPEAKERS

Ana Santos Pinto (Universidade Nova de Lisboa)
Giulia Daniele (ISCTE-IUL)
Huseyin Bagci (Middle East Technical University-METU)
José Manuel Félix Ribeiro (UAL)
Luís Valença Pinto (UAL e OBSERVARE)
Luis Tomé (UAL e OBSERVARE)
Mark Meirowitz (Suny Maritime College)
Nuno Lemos Pires (Director-Geral da Política de Defesa Nacional – MDN)
Outros a confirmar

CALENDAR: March 7 to June 20, 2025

DURATION: 50 hours / 6 ECTS

OPENING HOURS: Fridays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm (daytime) or from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm (after work)

LOCATION: The course is held in person at the facilities of the Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (UAL). Students will be able to participate in thematic conferences in person or online via Zoom organized by UAL and/or IDN.

CURRICULUM PLAN

• Delimitation and conceptualization of the Middle East and Maghreb region: the importance of the geographical factor in the geopolitical and geostrategic reading of the region
• Characterization of the Middle East and Maghreb region: political regimes; economic situation; security agenda and factors of instability; multilateralism and regionalism; identity and ideological factors
• Actors, interests and policies (traditional and emerging): vectors and factors of competition and cooperation, bilateral and multilateral; axes, partnerships and strategic alignments in foreign policy and regional hegemony
• The ongoing conflicts in the Greater Middle East and the post-Arab Spring: the major challenges for the future of the region and the redefinition of democratization through non-state dynamics and the transnationalization of threats.

The courses are taught in person at the Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa (UAL). Participants have access to thematic conferences organized by the IDN and/or UAL.