Dr Andreza Aruska de Souza Santos
Director, King's Brazil Institute
- Senior Lecturer in Brazilian and Latin American Studies
Research interests
- Community
- Politics
- Sociology
Contact details
Biography
Andreza completed her PhD in Social Anthropology at the University of St Andrews, and holds a master’s degree in Social Sciences jointly awarded by the University of Freiburg and the University of KwaZulu Natal, in Durban.
During her postgraduate studies she also undertook one semester at Jawaharlal Nehru University in India. Prior to this, Andreza completed her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Brasilia.
Having studied in Brazil, Germany, South Africa, India and the UK, Andreza writes about Brazilian politics and city governance comparatively. Before joining King's, she was a lecturer at the University of Oxford and director of the Brazilian Studies Programme (2018-2023). Before that, she was a postdoctoral researcher at Oxford’s School of Anthropology, where she worked at the Urban Transformations portfolio (ESRC).
She has previously worked at Brazil’s Ministry of Social Development, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (Vienna), at the Indian Embassy in Brazil, and at the Brazilian Confederation of Municipalities.
See Andreza’s website: andreza.co.uk
Research
- Informality and precariousness
- Mining towns
- Shrinking towns
- Participatory governance
- Grassroots politics
- Company towns (monotowns)
- Cities and citizenship
- The politics of health
- Sub-national politics
Main projects ongoing:
- Youth propensity to join military careers in a post-pandemic and post-Bolsonaro Brazil.
- Economic dependency (especially on mining) and its impact on local governance, gender dynamics, and migration.
- Citizenship in forest areas (the Amazon).
- In collaboration with the CADDE Centre local governments response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil.
Andreza's investigation is mainly concerned with the intersections and the dynamics between formal and informal political and economic systems. In her ethnography in Brazil, she has observed participatory politics (Policy Councils): who participates in meetings, how do meetings develop, and which impact do participatory politics have in the city.
She has observed that participating is not the same as voicing concerns, and people may go to meetings but remain silent. Sub-optimal decisions in policy councils are sometimes less costly for participants than confronting established powers in town.
There is a negative relationship between participation and levels of economic dependency. Although grassroots politics is a valuable resource to press for urban amenities, it is important to consider when poverty mobilises or discourages participatory politics.
The following essay published in The Architectural review summarises some of Andreza's research interests: www.architectural-review.com/essays/redefining-the-brazilian-company-town
For Andreza's publications, please see her google scholar profile.
Teaching
Postgraduate
- Contemporary Brazil
- Comparative Politics of Latin America
PhD supervision
Andreza invites PhD students interested in the following themes:
- grassroots politics
- urban governance in the global south
- company towns
- informalities and precariousness
- labour and gender in Brazil
Andreza is supervisor (primary or co-supervisor) for the following students:
- Anna Carolina Raposo de Mello
- Barbara Abrahao
- Rebeca Kritisch
Further details
Research
Latin American Security Research Group
The Latin American Security Research Group (LAS) gathers experts working on international relations, defence and security in Latin America.
Urbanisation, Rural Development and Social Transformations research group
A research group examining urban-rural development and its effect on the developing world.
News
'Brazil is Back' says country's top diplomat in UK
November saw the Brazilian Ambassador deliver King's Brazil Institute’s Inaugural Lecture, where he heralded the return of the South American nation as a...
King's hosts special performance by Brazilian 'favela' orchestra
The performance by Orquestra Maré do Amanhã was hosted by King’s Brazil Institute and was also an opportunity to hear from young Brazilians about music and...
Education once again a top priority in Brazil, minister tells King's event
The Brazilian Minister of Education was among guests speaking on education at a recent seminar at King’s.
New director of King's Brazil Institute announced
Dr Andreza Aruska de Souza Santos has been announced as the new director and will be joining King’s in April.
Events
Migration and Brazilians in the United Kingdom
A roundtable discussion on migration and Brazilians in the United Kingdom
Please note: this event has passed.
Women in Academia: A Spotlight on Brazil
This event explores the research conducted in and on Brazil by women for a variety of fields
Please note: this event has passed.
Brazil’s green agenda: advancements and challenges - Day 2
Join us as two panels of experts further explore the theme of this year's Brazil Week
Please note: this event has passed.
Brazil’s green agenda: advancements and challenges - Day 1
Opening Panel for Brazil Week 2024
Please note: this event has passed.
Launch of the Rio Branco Chair
Professor Karl Erik Schollhammer will be announced as the new Rio Branco Chair at the King's Brazil Institute.
Please note: this event has passed.
'Brazil is back: lessons learned and Brazil’s prospects in foreign affairs' with Brazilian Ambassador Antonio Patriota
Lecture with Brazilian Ambassador Antonio Patriota and with Professor Octavio Ferraz and Dr Vinicius de Carvalho as discussants
Please note: this event has passed.
Discussion: The life story and intellectual contributions of Luiz Gama
Discussion on 'The life story and intellectual contributions of Luiz Gama' with Bruno Lima, hosted by King's Brazil Institute.
Please note: this event has passed.
'Vale? Is it worth it?' - Five artists in the front line against Brazil’s worst environmental crime
Screening of 'Vale? Is it worth it?' organised by the King's Brazil Institute.
Please note: this event has passed.
Brazilian Inequalities: Identifying Challenges, Seizing Opportunities
Join our brilliant panellists and engage with the discussion by asking your questions
Please note: this event has passed.
Regional identification or economic calculation: preferences of Brazilian voters about federalism
Professor Marta Arretche presents findings demonstrating political crisis did not affect attitudes regarding centralisation in Brazil, and voter preferences...
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Brazil Week 2024 Concept Note
The theme of Brazil Week 2024
Research
Latin American Security Research Group
The Latin American Security Research Group (LAS) gathers experts working on international relations, defence and security in Latin America.
Urbanisation, Rural Development and Social Transformations research group
A research group examining urban-rural development and its effect on the developing world.
News
'Brazil is Back' says country's top diplomat in UK
November saw the Brazilian Ambassador deliver King's Brazil Institute’s Inaugural Lecture, where he heralded the return of the South American nation as a...
King's hosts special performance by Brazilian 'favela' orchestra
The performance by Orquestra Maré do Amanhã was hosted by King’s Brazil Institute and was also an opportunity to hear from young Brazilians about music and...
Education once again a top priority in Brazil, minister tells King's event
The Brazilian Minister of Education was among guests speaking on education at a recent seminar at King’s.
New director of King's Brazil Institute announced
Dr Andreza Aruska de Souza Santos has been announced as the new director and will be joining King’s in April.
Events
Migration and Brazilians in the United Kingdom
A roundtable discussion on migration and Brazilians in the United Kingdom
Please note: this event has passed.
Women in Academia: A Spotlight on Brazil
This event explores the research conducted in and on Brazil by women for a variety of fields
Please note: this event has passed.
Brazil’s green agenda: advancements and challenges - Day 2
Join us as two panels of experts further explore the theme of this year's Brazil Week
Please note: this event has passed.
Brazil’s green agenda: advancements and challenges - Day 1
Opening Panel for Brazil Week 2024
Please note: this event has passed.
Launch of the Rio Branco Chair
Professor Karl Erik Schollhammer will be announced as the new Rio Branco Chair at the King's Brazil Institute.
Please note: this event has passed.
'Brazil is back: lessons learned and Brazil’s prospects in foreign affairs' with Brazilian Ambassador Antonio Patriota
Lecture with Brazilian Ambassador Antonio Patriota and with Professor Octavio Ferraz and Dr Vinicius de Carvalho as discussants
Please note: this event has passed.
Discussion: The life story and intellectual contributions of Luiz Gama
Discussion on 'The life story and intellectual contributions of Luiz Gama' with Bruno Lima, hosted by King's Brazil Institute.
Please note: this event has passed.
'Vale? Is it worth it?' - Five artists in the front line against Brazil’s worst environmental crime
Screening of 'Vale? Is it worth it?' organised by the King's Brazil Institute.
Please note: this event has passed.
Brazilian Inequalities: Identifying Challenges, Seizing Opportunities
Join our brilliant panellists and engage with the discussion by asking your questions
Please note: this event has passed.
Regional identification or economic calculation: preferences of Brazilian voters about federalism
Professor Marta Arretche presents findings demonstrating political crisis did not affect attitudes regarding centralisation in Brazil, and voter preferences...
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Brazil Week 2024 Concept Note
The theme of Brazil Week 2024