Brad Safarik

Brad Safarik is a Lecturer in Political Science at the Catholic University of the West (Angers, France), affiliated with the Faculty of Law, Economics, Management and Political Science. He serves as Head of International Relations and Language Certification Manager at the DEG Faculty. As an associate researcher with LAM (Africa in the World) at Bordeaux Institute of Political Studies, his work focuses on rural political economy, particularly in Angola and Mozambique. His research examines state-building processes, land tenure systems, and the role of civil society in development policies.

Education includes a PhD in Political Science from Bordeaux Institute of Political Studies (2020), Master’s degrees in International Cooperation from Bordeaux, and undergraduate studies in Spanish/Latin American Studies from the University of Kansas. His teaching portfolio spans international relations, African politics, comparative political systems, and environmental governance in English and French.

Recent publications analyze Chinese loan impacts on Angolan rural governance, land reform negotiations via Rede Terra, and Portuguese-speaking African development challenges. His articles appear in African Affairs and specialized journals, with book chapters on rural transformations in Mozambique and Angola’s political economy.

Research activities include organizing conferences on subalternities in Africa and rural development, collaborating with NGOs like ADRA and Development Workshop. His work often bridges colonial legacies with contemporary governance issues in Lusophone Africa.