Research
Phd in Politics (2019 - now)
University of Manchester
Supervisors: Dr Martin Coward and Dr Andreja Zevnik
Based on the assumption that discourses, in digital environments, can be legitimised through authoritative performance and visibility, I am investigating how and why cultural Marxism, deep state, great replacement, and white genocide have been legitimised in online spaces. My research makes four contributions to politics and international relations.
My project makes at least three contributions to existing debates on critical security studies, especially concerning the impacts of digital technology on the power exercised by non-state actors. Firstly, it illuminates how novel ways of claiming authority facilitated by the internet have been used to invest conspiracy theories with the force of ‘truth’ either under the form of scientific knowledge or news. Secondly, it demonstrates how the alt-right has become capable of triggering its own conspiratorial regime of ‘truth’ based on the relationship between authoritative actors and a mass of truth-seekers who engage in collaborative authorship, disseminating alt-right ‘truths’ across different platforms. Thirdly, it exposes the racist and populist fantasies that have favoured the emergence of the alt-right, further contributing to the normalisation and legitimisation of shameless racism.
Co-lead of the Research Cluster Democracy and Trust
(2021 - now)
University of Manchester
Principal investigator of MAFTI
Mapping the Far-right "truth" industry
(04/2021 - now)
Independent research group
September 2019 - Now
Teaching
Lecturer
Conspiracy Theories and Democracy
(01/2022 - 06/2022)
King's College London
Lecturer
MA Introduction to
Digital Culture and Society
(09/2021 - 01/2022)
King's College London
As a lecturer at the Department of Digital Humanities, I was responsible for planning, designing, and delivering ten tutorials to two groups of twelve students. Each tutorial consisted of clearly defined ILOs, active learning activities, and an assessment task at the end to evaluate students’ learning. Furthermore, I used Padlet to keep students engaged with topics addressed in our seminars and
remind them of the core readings.
During this term, I also had the opportunity to work as a personal tutor, supporting the personal, academic, and professional development of ten undergraduate students enrolled in different courses.
As far as assessments are concerned, I marked 40 essays of 3,000 words.
GTA
International Relations and Politics
(09/2020 - 01/2021)
University of Manchester
As a Teaching Assistant, I planned, designed, and delivered ten tutorials to four groups of students who were enrolled in the largest course in the UK of Introduction to International Politics (according to the Oxford University Press).
Drawing upon the work of John Dewey and Paulo Freire, my tutorials were specially designed to give students a learning experience that facilitates the understanding of IR theories through contemporary examples brought to class by them. Despite the adversities caused by the Pandemic, I used different online resources to engage with students (Zoom and Piazza), sending them opportunities to attend youth events online and also mental health channels made available by the university.
As part of my duties as a TA, I also marked over 70 annotated bibliographies (using a rubric) and essays.
Industry experience
Digital Assistant
(05/2021 - now)
Review of International Studies
As a digital assistant for the Journal Review of International Studies published by Cambridge University Press, I am responsible for building its online presence across different social media networks - Twitter (@RISjnl), and
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/RISjournal).
My tasks involve the production of social media content and the development of campaigns to engage internet users with its contents in a creative and effective way. In my first month in this position, the number of followers on Facebook increased by 8%.
Founder and CEO
(10/2018 - 01/2022)
Words Heal the World
Through the methodology called Educ-(ac)tion, I have equipped undergraduate and Master students from the UK, Brazil, and Argentina with knowledge and skills to challenge online hate speech and develop strategies to tackle different types of extremism. Under my supervision, over 30 students (per term) produced three short documentaries, developed social media campaigns, wrote articles, produced the report Hate Map of Brazil, and facilitated the workshop "From student to student: sharing skills to challenge hate" in Brazilian high schools."
Words Heal the World is a non-profit limited company registered in the UK (Registration number: 11601612).
For more information: https://www.wordshealtheworld.com
Conferences
Conferences
BISA 2022 (06/2022)
Accepted paper: "The dangerous impact of the digitalisation of international politics: the Alt-Right Conspiratorial Regimes of 'Truth'"
Council for European Studies 2022 (06/2022)
Accepted paper: ”Assessing The Risks To Democracy In The Digital Era: The Alt-Right Conspiratorial Regimes Of Truth"
ISA 2022 (03/2022)
International Studies Association
Accepted paper: ”Examining power in network societies: the importance of transdisciplinarity to understand digital political phenomena”
PSA 2022 (04/2022)
Political Studies Association
Accepted paper: ”From 'stigmatized' to 'legitimate' knowledge: the Alt-Right Conspiratorial Regimes of Truth”
TECH 2018 Transforming Education Conference for Humanity (11/2018)
UNESCO MGIEP - Vizag, India
Presented paper: “Challenging extremism through educ-(ac)tion: how students can break the vicious circle of hate”
Fellowships
2022: Center of Discourse Studies