CATARINA M LIBERATO
Research
Resume
Catarina M. Liberato (MA, AFHEA) is a PhD candidate at the University of Kent (UK) and a Teaching Assistant at University College London (UK). She integrates the Global Europe Centre (GEC) and the Conflict Analysis Research Centre (CARC). Before joining Kent in 2020, Catarina earned a master’s in History, International Relations, and Cooperation from the University of Porto (Portugal). She then tested her diplomacy skills in the Italian diplomatic services while also getting a taste of the start-up hustle.
Catarina’s scientific curiosity bounces from Foreign Policy and EU security and defence to British Politics and Brexit, where she uses a mixed-methods approach. Her PhD project is a deep dive into how British foreign policy gets its groove on in the Brexit era. She’s on a mission to figure out how ideas pop up in the political landscape, schmooze their way through the British political elite, and ultimately shape foreign policy.
Interests
Political Science & International Relations
Brexit & British Politics
Foreign Policy Analysis & British Foreign Policy
EU Affairs & Security and Defence
Political Discourse & Strategic Narratives
Process Tracing, Content Analysis & Interviews
The journey of ‘Global Britain’: Foreign Policy changes in the Brexit context
Since September 2020, I have been developing my PhD project at the University of Kent (UK) under the supervision of Professor Richard G. Whitman, Dr Tim Aistrope & Dr Philip Cunliffe.
The Foundation for Science and Technology, a Portuguese government agency, has been funding my doctoral research since September 2021.
Publications
Liberato, C. M. and Faria e Castro, F., 2023. "Academic Career Choices in UK Higher Education: The Impacts of Pre-career Mobility". British Council EU Insights Hub. London: British Council.
2018. “Brexit: Portrayal of the Implications to the Security and Defence of the European Union” Master Thesis presented to the University of Porto. Porto: University of Porto. (Available here)
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2017. “The Portuguese Foreign Policy in Relations with Germany during the I World War”. IDN Papers: II IDN Jovem. Braga: National Defence Institute. (Available here)
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2016. “The expulsion of the Germans in 1916: The case of Porto”. Omni Tempore. Porto: University of Porto. (Available here)
Consulting
PARSUK/BRITISH COUNCIL Project
Exploring the link between student mobility and academic career choice in an EU context – Are we undervaluing the long-term contribution of EU students, researchers and academics in the UK?
As a member of the PARSUK executive board, I secured funding from the British Council to develop this research project. As the project Principal Investigator (PI), I had the opportunity to design the research while conducting interviews with EU academics in the UK, leading the team of two research analysts, and taking care of the project management responsibilities.
I had the opportunity to report and work closely with British Council Research team members based in the EU and abroad while reporting to the project's advisory board (PARSUK, FERN UK, Polonium Foundation).
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Published Report: Liberato, C. M. and Faria e Castro, F., 2023. "Academic Career Choices in UK Higher Education: The Impacts of Pre-career Mobility". British Council EU Insights Hub. London: British Council.
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