Abstract This article analyzes the political dynamics and strategies of the hegemonic coalition advocating for the interests of Brazil’s plastics value chain. This is a central issue in global debates on the causes of environmental crises and climate change. More specifically, the article examines this coalition’s strategies, tactics, and narratives, using the pattern identified across 15 countries on five continents in the Changing Markets Foundation’s report ‘Talking Trash’ as a reference. This qualitative study draws on secondary data from government […]

Abstract The intensification of climate change-related risks to port infrastructure presents an unprecedented challenge for global logistics systems, particularly in trade corridors linked to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Given the BRI’s extensive reach and influence, this article examines how key ports along the maritime route, including Djibouti, Gwadar, Hambantota, Piraeus, Mombasa, and, more recently, Chancay in Peru, have responded to climate vulnerabilities and adopted adaptive strategies. The central hypothesis is that these ports, due to their strategic relevance […]

Abstract The People’s Republic of China (PRC) military footprint is expanding globally, and one of the most notable examples of its contribution to international security is its involvement in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations. By examining Chinese deployments to these missions, this article seeks to contribute to understanding the political economy of China’s expanding global military presence. Is China a responsible power or a self-interested, resource-seeking actor in the peacekeeping regime? Relying on an original dataset, the article presents an […]

Abstract Brazilian municipalities simultaneously function as local administrative units, service providers, electoral districts, and the primary units for aggregating statistical, fiscal, and demographic data. Although their heterogeneity is widely acknowledged, the underlying structure of this heterogeneity is rarely examined. In this article, we argue that this heterogeneity should be understood as discrete, rather than as continuous variations of a single territorial form, and we propose a typology to explore these differences. The typology is derived from cluster analysis of Brazilian […]

Abstract The recent concern with the crisis of democracy has overshadowed interest among political scientists in the study of democratization processes that unfolded during the nineteenth century. ‘The Birth of Democracy in South America’ revisits and advances the discussion of this period, with particular attention to Latin America. Drawing on extensive research based on primary sources, the book breaks new ground by combining distinct explanatory approaches centered on military strength and political competition. Taken together, these contributions renew debates about […]

Abstract Although research on gender inequality in political representation often focuses on issues such as institutional constraints, the role of political parties, campaign costs, or shortcomings in the design of gender quotas, fewer studies examine women’s political careers directly. This article analyzes women’s political careers beginning at the city council level, the most accessible and available elected office in the Brazilian political system. To do so, we conduct a long-term analysis (2002–2020) of the prior and subsequent electoral trajectories of […]

Abstract The objective of this article is to examine the participation of union actors in the legislative decision-making process related to the social security reform enacted under the Bolsonaro administration (2019–2022), with particular attention to the role of the trade union caucus – comprising both deputies and senators – in the legislative consideration of Constitutional Amendment Bill N° 06 of 2019 (PEC 06/2019). The central research question guiding the study was: how did the union caucus act to defend workers’ […]

Abstract In 2020, according to data from the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), women saw an increase in their participation in the electoral race for municipal legislatures. Similarly, the number of self-declared Black candidates also rose. Yet despite higher participation among both groups, and even with the support of affirmative action policies in that election cycle, we still observe a persistent pattern of underrepresentation of Black women. Existing scholarship shows that several variables shape the electoral participation of minoritized groups. Drawing […]

Abstract This article provides a review on the main arguments of the book ‘Urban Power: Democracy and Inequality in São Paulo and Johannesburg’ by Ben Bradlow, aiming to situate it in a broader contemporary discussion in the Urban Studies literature. Drawing from the premise that urban inequalities in informal settlements are the greatest challenge facing local governments today, the author asks why some cities are more effective than others at reducing inequalities in the built environment. By comparing changes in […]