Dr Luis M da Vinha

Dr. Luis da Vinha received his Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of Coimbra (Portugal). Prior to joing De Montfort University, he was a Senior Lecturer and the Teaching Program Director for the Government department at Flinders University (Adelaide, Australia) and an Associate Professor and coordinator of the political science program at Valley City State University (ND, USA).

His teaching and research interests are in International Security, International Order, International Political Economy, Foreign Policy Analysis, and Geopolitics/Political Geography. His research has been published with Routledge, Palgrave Macmillan, Springer, Presidential Studies Quarterly, Comparative Strategy, Journal of Policy History, China Quarterly of International Strategic Studies, International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence, and the Brown Journal of World Affairs, among others. Dr. da Vinha is also the author of Geographic Mental Maps and Foreign Policy Change: Re-Mapping the Carter Doctrine and Three Approaches to Presidential Foreign Policy-Making in the Twenty-First Century (co-authored with Anthony Dutton).

Dr. Da Vinha is the recipient of the 2023 Vice Chancellor's Award for Innovation in Teaching Commendation (Flinders University), the 2022 CBGL Vice‐President and Executive Dean's Teaching and Learning Innovation Award (Flinders University), the 2021 Vice-Chancellor's Innovation in Teaching Award (Flinders University), the 2021 CBGL Vice-President and Executive Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (Flinders University), and the 2016 VCSU Teacher of the Year Award (USA). In 2024, Dr. da Vinha was awarded an Australian national Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (Australia Awards for University Teaching).

Jeff Bleich Centre for Democracy and Disruptive Technologies

Books

• da Vinha, Luis and Anthony Dutton (2021) Three Approaches to Presidential Foreign Policy-Making in the Twenty First Century: The Executive, the Magistrate, and the Maverick. New York: Peter Lang Publishing.
• da Vinha, Luis (2017) Geographic Mental Maps and Foreign Policy Change: Re-Mapping the Carter Doctrine. Berlin: De Gruyter.

Book Chapters

• da Vinha, Luis and Hongyi Liang (forthcoming) “China vis-à-vis the EU: The Competition for Africa’s Smart Cities,” in Francisco Leandro, Jorge Tavares, Yichao Li, and Carlos Rodrigues (Eds.) The Palgrave Handbook on China-Europe-Africa Relations: Legacies and the New International Order. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan.
• da Vinha, Luis (2023) “Political Geography” in Mello, Patrick and Falk Osterman (Eds.) Routledge Handbook of Foreign Policy Analysis Methods. Abingdon: Routledge, 82-97.
• da Vinha, Luis and Anthony Dutton (2023) “Searching for the Elusive Trump Doctrine,” in Adebowale Akande (Ed.) The Perils of Populism: The End of the American Century? Cham: Springer, 143-168.
• da Vinha, Luis and Anthony Dutton (2023) “From ‘Nipple’ to ‘Nambia’ and Everything In-Between: Donald Trump’s Mental Maps and the Unraveling of the Liberal World (Dis)Order,” in Adebowale Akande (Eds.) US Democracy in Danger: The American Political System under Pressure. Cham: Springer, 165–196.
• da Vinha, Luis (2022) “Fostering Active Learning Online Using Interactive Lecture Videos” in Enomoto, Kayoko, Richard Warner, and Claus Nygaard (Eds.) Active Learning in Higher Education: Student Engagement and Deeper Learning Outcomes. Oxfordshire: Libri Publishing, 181-202.
• da Vinha, Luis (2021) “Dangers on the Edge of the Map: Geographic Mental Maps and the Emergence of the Carter Doctrine” in Criekemans, David (Ed.) Geopolitics and International Relations: Grounding World Politics Anew. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill Publisher, 258-286.
• da Vinha, Luis (2019) “Uma Relação Complexa: O Multilateralismo e a Política Externa Norte-Americana no Século XXI” in Fernandes, Sandra and Licínia Simão (Eds.) O Multilateralismo: Conceitos e Práticas no Século XXI. Coimbra: Coimbra University Press, 93–115.
• da Vinha, Luis and Madeline Bennett (2019) “Assessing State Partition as a Conflict Management Strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa” in Ludwig, Fernando and Luciano Barros (Eds.) (Re)Definições das Fronteiras: Desafios para o Século XXI (volume 3). Foz de Iguaçu, Brazil: Editora IDESF.
• da Vinha, Luis and Anthony Dutton (2017) “From ‘Gringos Malhechores’ to ‘Bad Hombres’: The Changing Narratives and Politics of the Mexican-American Border” in Ludwig, Fernando and Luciano Barros (Eds.) (Re)Definições das Fronteiras: Velhos e Novos Paradigmas (volume 2). Foz de Iguaçu, Brazil: Editora IDESF, 113–125.
• da Vinha, Luis (2015) “Ronald Reagan” in Casey, Steven and Jonathan Wright (Eds.) Mental Maps in the Era of Detente and the End of the Cold War 1968-91. New York: Palgrave-Macmillan, 195–215.
• Freire, Maria Raquel and Luis da Vinha (2015) “Política Externa: Modelos, Actores e Dinâmicas” in Freire, Maria Raquel (Ed.) Política Externa: As Relações Internacionais em Mudança [2nd Edition]. Coimbra: Coimbra University Press, 15–61.
• Barrinha, André and Luis da Vinha (2014) “Dealing with Risk: Precision Strikes and Interventionism in the Obama Administration” in Dyson, Tom, Wali Aslam, Regina Rauxloh and Mike Aaronson (Eds.) Precision-Strike Technology and International Intervention: Strategic, Legal and Moral Implications. Oxon: Routledge, 14–32.
• da Vinha, Luis (2013) “In Search of a Morally Pragmatic Foreign Policy: The Carter Administration’s Human Rights Policy” in Costa, Marta (Ed.) Democracia, Direitos Humanos e Justiça Global. Braga, Portugal: Edições Húmus, 81–98.
• Freire, Maria Raquel and Luis da Vinha (2011) “Política Externa: Modelos, Actores e Dinâmicas” in Freire, Maria Raquel (Ed.) Política Externa: As Relações Internacionais em Mudança. Coimbra: Coimbra University Press, 13–54.

Papers in Scientific Journals

• da Vinha, Luis (2024) “Smart for Whom? Africa’s Smart Cities and Digital Authoritarianism” International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence.
• Alfaifi, Tawfiq and Luis da Vinha (2023) “Segurança do Golfo Pérsico em uma Nova Era de Competição Geopolítica Global” Estudos Internacionais: Revista de Relações Internacionais 10 (3): 53-69.
• Alfaifi, Tawfiq and Luis da Vinha (2023) “The Sino-American Rivalry and Persian Gulf Security” China Quarterly of International Strategic Studies 8 (3-4): 215-242.
• da Vinha, Luis and Anthony Dutton (2022) “Embracing the Maverick: The Evolution of President Donald Trump’s Management of Foreign Policy-Making.” Central European Journal of International and Security Studies 16 (1), 4-35.
• da Vinha, Luis (2021) “A Tale of Two Red Lines: Managing Foreign Policy Crises in the Obama and Trump Administrations.” Comparative Strategy 40 (1), 63-85.
• da Vinha, Luis (2021) “Using Hybrid Simulations to Enhance Student Learning of International Relations Theories.” Issues in Educational Research 31 (3), 739-759.
• da Vinha, Luis (2019) “Competition, Conflict, and Conformity: Foreign Policy-Making in the First Year of the Trump Presidency” Presidential Studies Quarterly. 49 (2), 280–309.
• da Vinha, Luis (2019) “Maps of War and Peace: Rethinking Geography in International Affairs” Brown Journal of World Affairs. 25 (2), 73–89.
• da Vinha, Luis (2018) “Managing an ‘America First’ Strategy: Donald Trump’s Executive Transition from a Private to a Public Executive” Portuguese Journal of Political Science. 10, 13–43.
• da Vinha, Luis (2018) “A Vitória Eleitoral de Donald Trump: Uma Análise de Disfunção Institucional” Revista de Sociologia e Política. 26 (66), 7–30.
• da Vinha, Luis and Niklas Ernst (2018) “The Unfinished Presidencies: Why Incumbent Presidents May Lose Their Re-Election Bids” Perspectivas – Journal of Political Science. 18, 7–20.
• da Vinha, Luis (2017) “Previsivelmente Incoerente: Uma Análise Preliminar da Política Externa de Donald Trump” R:I Relações Internacionais. 55, 9–33.
• da Vinha, Luis (2016) “Structures, Processes, and Communication in the Transformation of the Carter Administration’s Foreign Policy” Journal of Policy History. 28 (4), 624–653.
• da Vinha, Luis (2016) “Selling the Arc of Crisis: Promoting Foreign Policy Change during the Carter Presidency” Slovak Journal of Political Sciences. 16 (2), 162–189.
• da Vinha, Luis (2016) “Creating Frankenstein States: The Persistent Quest for the Ideal Modern Polity” Conjuntura Global, 5 (3), 484–511.
• da Vinha, Luis (2015) “Falling Dominos… Or the Role of Geographic Mental Maps in Foreign Policy” European Journal of Geography. 6 (4), 76–87.
• da Vinha, Luis (2015) “Communicative Interaction and Foreign Policy Change: Re-evaluating the Carter Administration’s Decision-Making Process during the Iranian Revolution” Portuguese Journal of Political Science. 5, 99–118.
• da Vinha, Luis (2015) “The (Not So) Rapid Deployment Force: Bureaucratic and Political Barriers to Implementing Strategic Change” Nação e Defesa. 141, 156–174.
• da Vinha, Luis (2014) “Revisiting the Carter Administration’s Human Rights Policy: Understanding Traditional Challenges for Contemporary Foreign Policy” Revista de Paz y Conflictos. 7, 99–122.
• da Vinha, Luis (2013) “Group-sharing, not Groupthink: Understanding Foreign Policy Decision-Making through a Social Sharedness Approach” Perspectivas – Portuguese Journal of Political Science and International Relations. 11, 31–53.
• da Vinha, Luis (2012) “Adopting a Social Psychological Approach to Geographic Mental Maps in Foreign Policy Decision-Making” Aurora Geography Journal. 4, 57–79.
• da Vinha, Luis (2012) “Charting Geographic Mental Maps in Foreign Policy Analysis: A Literature Review” Human Geographies - Journal of Studies and Research in Human Geography. 6 (1), 5–17.
• da Vinha, Luis (2012) “O Inevitável Declínio do Poder Americano Ou Vinho Velho em Garrafa Nova?” R:I Relações Internacionais. 34, 107–116.
• da Vinha, Luis (2011) “Assessing the Conceptual ‛Goodness’ of Geographic Mental Maps for Foreign Policy Analysis” Romanian Review on Political Geography. 13 (2), 133–148.
• da Vinha, Luis (2010) “Radical Reconstructions: A Critical Analogy of US Post-Conflict State-building” Nação e Defesa. 126, 191–224.
• da Vinha, Luis (2010) “Acquiring Geographic Knowledge in International Politics” Universitas: Relações Internacionais. 8 (2), 53–94.
• da Vinha, Luis (2010) “As Empresas Militares Privadas e o Peacekeeping”. E-Cadernos. 6, 45–55.
• da Vinha, Luis (2009) “Reassessing the ‘Guns and Butter’ Debate: The role of Military Revolutions and Defense Industry Innovation in Contemporary Spatial Development” Aurora Geography Journal. 2, 89–111.
• da Vinha, Luis (2009) “John Gerard Ruggie e a Institucionalização da Paz Liberal” Cabo dos Trabalhos. 3, 2–20

International Relations, International Security, International Order, U.S. Foreign Policy, Foreign Policy Analysis, Geopolitics/Political Geography

Ph.D. in International Relations (University of Coimbra, Portugal)

M.A. in Geography (University of Coimbra, Portugal)

B.A. in Geography (University of Coimbra, Portugal)

• 2024 National Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning  (Australia Awards for University Teaching)
• 2023 Vice Chancellor's Award for Innovation in Teaching Commendation (Flinders University)
• 2022 CBGL Vice‐President and Executive Dean's Teaching and Learning Innovation Award (Flinders University)
• 2021 Vice-Chancellor's Innovation in Teaching Award (Flinders University)
• 2021 CBGL Vice-President and Executive Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (Flinders University)
• 2016 VCSU Teacher of the Year Award (USA)

Paper presentations

2023

“Challenges and Opportunities for Digital Democracy in Africa’s Smart Cities”, International Political Science Association (IPSA) 27th World Congress of Political Science (Buenos Aires, Argentina).

2022

“Using Hyper-Videos to Foster Greater Student Engagement”, Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) Annual Conference 2022 (Melbourne, Australia).
“Fostering Active Learning Online Using Interactive Lecture Videos”, 23rd International Symposium organized by the Institute for Learning in Higher Education (Virtual Conference).

2021

“Unplanned Learning Design and Student Inclusion in a Time of Crisis”, International Research Society for Public Management (IRSPM) Conference 2021 (Virtual Conference).
2019

“Beyond the Cybernetic Model: Continuity and Change in the Obama Administration’s Middle East Policy”, 60th International Studies Association (ISA) Annual Conference (Toronto, Canada).

2018

“The Art of Muddling Through: An Early Assessment of Foreign Policy-Making in the Trump Administration”, 59th International Studies Association (ISA) Annual Convention (San Francisco, CA).

2017

“From the Board Room to the War Room: Donald Trump’s Managerial Transition from the Private to Public Sector”, ISA Midwest Annual Conference 2017 (St. Louis, MO).

2016

“The Carter Administration’s Changing Geographic Mental Maps of the Persian Gulf Region”, ISA Midwest Annual Conference 2016 (St. Louis, MO).

“Maps of War and Peace: Rethinking Geography in International Affairs”, 57th International Studies Association (ISA) Annual Convention (Atlanta, GA).

“Would You Like Fries with That? Considering the Modern Logic of State-building in a Post-modern World”, 51st Annual Northern Great Plains History Conference (St. Cloud, MN).

“The Unfinished Presidencies: Why Incumbent Presidents Lose Their Re-Election Campaigns” [co-authored with Niklas Ernst], 51st Annual Northern Great Plains History Conference (St. Cloud, MN).

2015

“The Carter Administration’s Emergent Policy in the Middle East: Assessing Foreign Policy Change through an Emergent Change Approach”, European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) General Conference (Montreal, Canada).

2014

“Constructing the Carter Doctrine: Rethinking Foreign Policy Change”, VII Annual Conference of the Portuguese Political Science Association (Coimbra, Portugal).

2013

“Re-mapping the Carter Doctrine: Reassessing the Carter Administration’s Foreign Policy Change”, IV International Colloquium of PhD students of CES (Coimbra, Portugal).

2012

“Constructing the Carter Administration’s Human Rights Policy: Understanding Traditional Challenges for Contemporary Foreign Policy”, III International Congress on Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Justice (Braga, Portugal).

“Adopting a Social Psychological Approach to Geographical Mental Maps in Foreign Policy Analysis”, VI Annual Conference of the Portuguese Political Science Association (Lisbon, Portugal).

2011

“11 de Setembro: O que mudou 10 anos depois?” [September 11th: What has changed ten years later?], organized by the Department of International Relations of the University of Coimbra and FNAC (Coimbra, Portugal).

“Georeferencing Foreign Policy: The Role of Geographical Mental Maps in Foreign Policy Decision-making”, WISC Third Global International Studies Conference (Porto, Portugal).

2010

“Georeferencing Foreign Policy: The Problamatique of Decision-maker’s Geographical Mental Maps”, V Annual Conference of the Portuguese Political Science Association (Aveiro, Portugal).

• Lachlan Poel, Electorally (Dis)Informed?: American and Australian Parliamentary Committees and Electoral Disinformation (PhD thesis, Flinders University) – principal supervisor [in progress]
• Vinícius Guedes Gonçalves de Oliveira, Cybersecurity Challenges to the Australian Space Infrastructure: A Policy Analysis (PhD thesis, Flinders University) – auxiliary supervisor [in progress]
• Thomas O’Donnell, AUKUS and the Deterrence of Grey Zone Activities (PhD thesis, Flinders University) – auxiliary supervisor [in progress]
• Zoe Johnson, Culture Wars in the United States: How Conservative Activists are Targeting DEI Programs in American Universities (Honours thesis, Flinders University) [in progress]

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7222-5095