Oswaldo Aranha Chair of Security and Defense (COA)
- Home
- COA
The Oswaldo Aranha Chair of Security and Defense (COA) was officially established at the University of São Paulo (USP) through Administrative Ordinance GR No. 8187, dated August 9, 2023. Housed at the Institute of International Relations (IRI-USP) and coordinated by the School of Multidimensional Security (ESEM-USP), the Chair serves as a hub for high-quality research in security and defense studies, with a particular focus on international cooperation.
Its primary mission is to analyze contemporary security and defense challenges and identify emerging threats and opportunities in public security and defense. The Chair also seeks to foster an open forum for dialogue among academics, criminal justice system operators, defense professionals, and private sector representatives, promoting interdisciplinary discussions on topics such as illicit markets, transnational organized crime, terrorism, and criminal insurgencies.
Oswaldo Aranha (1894–1960) was a key figure in Brazilian diplomacy, playing a decisive role in shaping Brazil's foreign policy during the mid-20th century. As Brazil's ambassador to the United States and later a prominent leader at the United Nations, Aranha was instrumental in strengthening Brazil’s international presence. One of his most significant contributions was his leadership in the creation of the State of Israel, as he presided over the Second General Assembly of the United Nations in 1947. His diplomatic legacy continues to inspire initiatives that promote international cooperation and global governance, making him a fitting namesake for this Chair.
The 2024–2025 cycle of the Oswaldo Aranha Chair is sponsored by the PMI Impact Program, funded by Philip Morris International. This cycle will critically examine the complex dynamics of illicit markets in the Americas, with a particular focus on their impact on regional and global security.
At the core of this research is the phenomenon of criminal convergence, which refers to the formation and consolidation of alliances between organized crime groups, terrorist networks, and systems of corruption and money laundering across the continent.
This convergence represents one of the most pressing security challenges today, as it requires integrated responses that extend beyond security and defense to include public administration and private sector collaboration.
Effectively addressing this challenge will necessitate the development of shared governance mechanisms, capable of coordinating international efforts and fostering innovative, multidimensional responses. The first chairholder for this cycle will be Professor Michael Miklaucic, an expert in global security, governance, and transnational threats.
Professor Michael Miklaucic is a leading expert in international security and defense policy, specializing in gray zone conflicts, criminal convergence, and global governance. He is currently a lecturer at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago and a senior fellow at the National Defense University (NDU) in Washington, D.C..
Until August 2024, he served as Editor-in-Chief of PRISM, PRISMNDU Press National Defense University Pressfocused on national and international security. Under his leadership, PRISM became a key platform for analysis and debate on contemporary security threats. His most influential works include the books: Convergence: Illicit Networks and National Security in the Age of Globalization (2013) and Beyond Convergence: A World Without Order (2017) (2017).
As the inaugural chairholder of the Oswaldo Aranha Chair, Professor Miklaucic will bring a comprehensive and analytical perspective to the security challenges facing the Americas, with a special emphasis on illicit markets, organized crime, and terrorism.
A specialized postgraduate course on criminal convergence in the Americas will be offered in a hybrid format at the University of São Paulo, co-coordinated by Professor Miklaucic and Professor Leandro Piquet Carneiro from USP. This course will explore the complexities of transnational organized crime and its implications for security and defense in the Americas.
The Chair will oversee the production of a book featuring research contributions from postgraduate students and security professionals. This publication will provide in-depth analyses and case studies on illicit markets, criminal convergence, and their intersection with public security and defense.
A series of seminars and academic events will be organized, with some sessions open to the public and others aimed at specific audiences, including the authors of the book and participants of the course. These activities will facilitate the exchange of ideas and the dissemination of cutting-edge research.
Latin America faces increasingly complex transnational security threats, ranging from organized crime and terrorism to illicit markets that undermine political stability, economic growth, and social development. These challenges have been further exacerbated by emerging technologies and the global interconnectivity of criminal networks, requiring collaborative and multidimensional responses. Drawing inspiration from the 2003OAS Declaration on Multidimensional Security,the Transnational Security Challenges in Latin America seminar series—organized by the Oswaldo Aranha Chair at the University of São Paulo—will provide a high-level platform for dialogue among experts, academics, and policymakers. The objective is to propose innovative solutions and strengthen regional cooperation in tackling these evolving threats.
The School of Multidimensional Security (ESEM) is part of the Institute of International Relations (IRI) of the University of São Paulo (USP).
