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Dr. Peter Birle

Political Science

  • Management
  • Research and publications
  • Researchers

After studying Political Science, Journalism and Romance Studies, I worked as a research assistant at the University of Mainz, where I completed my PhD in 1995. From 1995 to 1999, I worked as a research assistant at the University of Rostock. Since 2000, I have been employed as a research associate at the Ibero-American Institute, and I have headed its research department since 2001. My research interests are focused on Latin America's international relations and on political developments in the region. I am most familiar with the countries of South America, especially with Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Colombia.

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Research Interests

  • Latin American foreign policies in comparative perspective
  • Regional cooperation and integration in Latin America
  • Comparative analysis of political systems in Latin America
  • Knowledge production in and about Latin America

Current Projects

Completed Projects

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Publications

Complete Publication List (PDF, 164.45 KB) (opens in a new window), (this file is not accessible)

Recent Monographs and Editions

Recent Articles and Contributions in Books

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Media Contributions

Teaching

  • Media, Politics and Democracy in Latin America, FU Berlin (Winter Term 2020/2021)
  • Democracy at the Abyss? Challenges and Perspectives of Democracy in Latin America, FU Berlin (Winter Term 2020/2021)
  • The Relationship between Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, FU Berlin (Winter Term 2019/2020)
  • Latin America and the United States in the 21st Century, FU Berlin (Summer Semester 2019)
  • Latin America in the International System, FU Berlin (Winter Semester 2017/2018)
  • Foreign Policy and Regional Cooperation in Latin America, FU Berlin (Winter Semester 2016/2017)
  • The Relationship between Germany and Latin America, FU Berlin (WS 2015/2016)
  • Comparing Latin American Foreign Policies, FU Berlin (SS 2015)
  • Political Systems in Latin America, FU Berlin (SS 2014)
  • Regional Cooperation and Integration in Latin America, FU Berlin (WS 2013/2014)
  • El sistema político de Brasil / La política exterior de Brasil, course offered as part of the maestrías “Estudios Latinoamericanos” and “Relaciones Internacionales” at the Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia, 2013
  • Political Systems in the Americas. Brazil, Mexico and the USA in Comparison, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (WS 2012/2013)
  • Latin America in the International System, FU Berlin (Winter Semester 2011/2012)
  • The United States and Latin America between Cooperation and Conflict, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (Winter Semester 2011/2012)
  • The Political System of Brazil, FU Berlin (Summer Semester 2011)
  • Integration and Cooperation in Latin America, FU Berlin (Winter Semester 2009/2010)
  • The United States and Latin America, FU Berlin (WS 2008/2009)
  • Relations between Europe and Latin America, FU Berlin (SS 2008)
  • Latin America in the International System, FU Berlin (WS 2007/2008)
  • Latin American Foreign Policies between Cooperation and Conflict, FU Berlin (WS 2006 / 2007)
  • Democracy in Latin America. Theoretical Discussions and Empirical Findings, FU Berlin (SS 2003)
  • Parties and Party Systems in Latin America, FU Berlin (WS 2002/2003)
  • Latin America in the International System, FU Berlin (SS 2002)
  • State Reform and Decentralization in Latin America, FU Berlin (WS 2001/2002)
  • Integration and Cooperation in Latin America – Current State and Future Perspectives, FU Berlin (SS 2001)
  • German and European Foreign Policy towards Latin America, FU Berlin (WS 2000/2001)
  • 1995 - 1999: regular teaching in political science at the University of Rostock
  • 1989 - 1995: regular teaching in political science at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz
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Reports and Evaluations

  • Since 2003: Responsible for the country report on Brazil for the Bertelsmann Transformation Index (every two years).
  • Expert Report: Brazil. INCRA. An International Non-Profit Credit Rating Agency, study commissioned by the Bertelsmann Foundation. Gütersloh 2012.
  • Evaluation of the project work of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Chile, study commissioned by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. Berlin 2012.
  • Effective support for regional integration and cooperation processes in Latin America, study commissioned by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) as part of the self-initiative “Challenges and potentials of regional cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean” (PN 2003.9126.8). Eschborn 2009.
  • Crisis in the Andes? EU Response Capacities, contribution to the study “Crisis in the Andes? EU Response Capacities”. CPN In-depth study, September 2001 (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik - Conflict Prevention Network)
  • Soziokulturelle Kurzanalyse Bolivien, prepared for the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development BMZ on behalf of the Institut für Iberoamerika-Kunde, Hamburg (1998).
  • Political Framework for Development Cooperation in Bolivia, study commissioned by the Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), Mainz 1994.
  • Review of the Effectiveness of LARAP Induction Grants, co-author of the study commissioned by OIM, Mainz 1993
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Committees and Professional Associations

Committees

  • Director of the journal “Iberoamericana. América Latina - España - Portugal”
  • Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the journal “Cahiers des Amériques latines”
  • Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the journal “Revista Mexicana de Análisis Político y Administración Pública”
  • Member of the Comitê Editorial of the journal “Opinião Pública”
  • Member of the Consejo Científico of the journal “Apuntes Electorales”
  • Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Interdisciplinary Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Bonn (ILZ)
  • Member of the Consejo Científico of the journal “Anuario Latinoamericano - Ciencias Políticas y Relaciones Internacionales”
  • Member of the Consejo Editorial of the journal RiHumSo. Revista de investigacion del Departamento de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales

Professional Associations

  • Member of the German Political Science Association (DVPW)
  • Member of the German Society for Political Science (DGfP)
  • Member of the German Association for Latin American Studies (ADLAF)
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Currículum Vitae

  • 1.4. - 30.09. 2023: German Director in Presence of the BMBF-funded joint project Mecila: Maria Sibylla Merian Centre Conviviality-Inequality in Latin America (www.mecila.net) based at the Centro Brasileiro de Análise e Planejamento (Cebrap) in São Paulo, Brazil
  • 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016: research stays at the Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
  • 2007-2010: Chair of the German Association for Latin American Studies (ADLAF)
  • since 4/2001: Head of the Research Department and the Research and Publications Division, Ibero-American Institute Berlin
    since 1/2000: Research Associate at the Ibero-American Institute; Lecturer at the FU Berlin
  • 4/1995-12/1999: Research Assistant at the Institute for Political and Administrative Sciences at the University of Rostock, Chair of Comparative Government.
    July 1995: Awarded PhD (Dr. Phil) with a thesis on “The political role of entrepreneurs and their interest groups in Argentina”
  • 6/1994-12/1994: Worked as a freelance consultant for GTZ (German Society for Technical Cooperation); prepared a study on the political framework for development cooperation in Bolivia
  • 10/1993-5/1994: Research associate at the Institute for Political Science, University of Mainz, in the context of a project funded by the German Research Foundation on business associations in the Southern Cone
  • 11/1992-6/1993: Collaboration on a study commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development on the effectiveness of LARAP grants
  • 1992 / 1993: Lecturer at the Department of Social Services at the University of Applied Sciences Lausitz, Cottbus (“Introduction to Political Science”)
  • 2/1989-9/1993: Research assistant at the Institute for Political Science at the University of Mainz (Department of Political Studies Abroad and Development Policy); Teaching, research and administrative work
  • Dec. 1988: Magister Artium (M.A.) with a thesis on “Parties, Party Systems and Democracy in Argentina. The Recent Development of the Unión Cívica Radical and its Position within the Argentine Party System”.
  • 1982-1988: Studied Political Science, Communication Studies and Romance Studies at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz
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