Tatiana Benavides Santos
Nationality: Costa Rica
Political scientist with over 12 years working in the field of democratization and governance, peace processes, elections, funding of political parties and political campaigns in Latin America (specifically in Central America). She has expertise in designing, coordinating and implementing academic and cooperation programs.
Formal Education
PhD Candidate in Political Studies, Institut des Hautes Etudes de l'Amérique latine, Université de la Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris III, France.
Thesis: "Horizontal accountability (and trust in political institutions) in countries in process of democratization in Central America."
Thesis: “Horizontal accountability (and trust in political institutions) in countries in process of democratization in Central America.”
Master's Degree in Political Studies, Institut des Hautes Etudes de l'Amérique Latine, Université de la Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris III, France. Thesis: "The Electoral Organization and Democratic Consolidation Process in Central America: The cases of El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua".
Post Graduate Studies in Political Science (Licenciatura), University of Costa Rica. Thesis: "The impact of the Central American Peace Process on the United States foreign policy towards the region". Approved with distinctions.
BA (Honors) School of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Costa Rica.
Professional Experience
Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Dual Campus M.A. Programme in International Peace Studies (current position) Responsibilities: Teaching and coordination of the Dual Campus M.A. Programme in International Peace Studies. Training in conflict transformation and peacebuilding.
Instructor. University for Peace
Responsibilities: Coordination of the academic and administrative activities of the International Peace Studies M.A. Programme as well as teaching in several courses of the programme.
Lecturer. Universidad de Costa Rica
Responsibilities: Teaching and designing of the course on Democratization Process in Central America. Central American Master's Degree in Political Sciences. Faculty of Social Sciences.
Consultant to the UNDP sponsored project "Estado de la La Nacion" (State of the Nation) for the Informe Estado de La Nacion 2002 (VIII Report State of the Nation 2002). UNDP
Responsibilities: Lead writer of the chapter "Freedom of Press and Freedom of Expression in Costa Rica."
Consultant and researcher to the UNDP sponsored project Report on Democratic Development in Latin America (published in 2003).
Responsibilities: Theoretical formulation and research development; survey analysis and interpretation; drafting of concept papers.
Consultant and researcher to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) on the project Funding of Political Parties, and on electoral and governance issues. International IDEA, Stockholm, Sweden.
Responsibilities: Research and systematization of theoretical and practical information on the funding of political parties; designing and elaboration (completing) of 18 Latin American country matrixes; drafting of analytical papers; coordination with Latin American electoral and political authorities and experts; and coordination with the team of researchers of the global project on Funding of political Parties.
Program Officer / Researcher for the Foreign Service Foundation for Peace and Democracy (FUNPADEM), Costa Rica
Responsibilities: Implementation, supervision and evaluation of projects in the Central American region, mainly the Trans-borderline Cooperation in Central America Project.
Research Fellow in Latin American politics. Department of European Studies (European-Latin American Relations). University of Bradford. United Kingdom.
Responsibilities: Research on Central America political institutions.
Consultant to the Program of Security and Governance. The Canadian Foundation for the Americas (FOCAL), Ottawa, Canada
Eesponsibilities: Research on military expenditure in Central America in the 1990's
Consultant. Latin American Political Advisors (LAPA), Panama.
Responsibilities: Research and development of reports on: the system of Administration of Justice in Panama; and the creation of the Ombudsman in Panama.
Lecturer. School of International Relations (Graduate and Masters Degree courses), Faculty of Social Sciences, National University of Costa Rica
Responsibilities: Taught theory and practice of Latin American International Relations and the Great Powers Foreign Policies
Researcher. The Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress
Responsibilities: Research on the Central American Peace Process of Esquipulas II. The research project was based on diverse sources of information including interviews of Central American presidents and main actors of this process.
Assistant to the Vice-president. Office of the Vice President of Costa Rica
Responsibilities: Organized seminars and meetings for the Central American Vice - Presidents within the framework of the Central American peace process Esquipulas II.
Awards
Research Fellow. University of Bradford. United. Department of European Studies.
Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS), University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. Invited Lecturer.
Publications
Articles:
“Libertad de Prensa y Expresión en Costa Rica en 2001” (Freedom of Press and Freedom of Expression in Costa Rica 2001). “Estado de la Nación 2002” San José, Costa Rica.
Several articles on the funding of political parties and electoral campaigns in Latin America with Dr. Daniel Zovatto (International IDEA).
Books:
“La Fuerza o la Razón”. -La influencia de los pequeños países centroamericanos sobre la política exterior de los Estados Unidos hacia la region. El proceso de paz de Esquipulas. Editorial de la Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica. Escuela de Relaciones Internacionales, Heredia, Costa Rica, 1997.
Areas of interest
• Democratization and governance
• Political institutions (institutional design and political institutions performance)
• Human security
• Gender mainstreaming
• Peace processes and democracy