#  Senior Spotlight: Isabel Bernhard 

 





June 02, 2020

 

 

 ![ibernhard](/sites/g/files/omnuum12451/files/drclas2/files/isabelb.png)

 

Isabel Bernard (AB ‘20) won the [Kenneth Maxwell Prize in Brazilian Studies](/thesis-prizes) for her thesis in Social Studies, "Controlling Alternative Sources of Power: Denuclearization and Democratic Consolidation in Brazil and Argentina, 1983-1994." This fall, Bernhard will begin her Master's Program in Latin American Studies at Oxford University. **What is your thesis about and what are your main findings?**

 I wrote a qualitative political science thesis about democratic consolidation in Brazil and Argentina in the 1980s and 1990s. By studying each country’s national nuclear agency, I analyzed shifts in civil-military relations after their military dictatorships had ended.

 I set out to answer how and why civilians consolidated control over military-managed nuclear programs during inchoate democratic years. I first created a new vocabulary to understand civilian control, then found that the sequence and difficulty of exerting control were caused by each country’s mode of democratic transition.

 **What made you choose that topic?**

 My thesis topic united three things: my family’s experience with authoritarianism, my coursework in Latin American Studies, and my internship experience in Argentina. I wanted to understand family stories of authoritarianism and democracy through an academic lens. I investigated this topic in Latin America because I deeply enjoyed the Latin America-centric courses in my focus field. I was also fortunate to intern in the municipal government of Buenos Aires the summer after my freshman year, alongside a cohort of Brazilian exchange students. This primed my interest in Argentina and Brazil in particular.

 **How was your field experience in Brazil (and elsewhere)?**

 I loved doing fieldwork in both Brazil and Argentina. I was fortunate to establish contact with archives and interviewees in advance, and thankfully everything went smoothly. My thesis trip was also my first-ever trip to Brazil, so I was trying to absorb as much as possible of the language, culture, and food everywhere I went.

 In Rio, São Paulo, and Brasília, people were incredibly patient and kind as I navigated a tangle of logistics and documents. In several cases, interviewees and local professors very generously invited me into their homes for lunch or coffee, even on a weekend. In fact, during one meeting I spoke with someone while his family baked him a birthday cake in the background (for his birthday the next day). It was a privilege to learn in every context, and I really appreciate everyone who took the time to educate me.

 **Does winning the Kenneth Maxwell prize make you want to continue with Brazil and/or your field of study?**

 I’m incredibly grateful to receive the Maxwell Prize, and I never imagined that it would happen. Before I received the news, I was already excited to continue my studies of Latin American politics. Latin America and Brazil in particular have shown me how to be a better citizen and a more nuanced aspiring political scientist. The region historically has extensive civil society activism in social issues, and my own research highlights how a small number of committed individuals could strengthen fragile democracies. By learning from the example of everyday Brazilians, I hope to be a more engaged advocate at home for American social and political issues. Additionally, Latin American politics often provide much-needed nuances for political science theories. In studying Latin America, I hope to do my part to question and modify the generalizations in our discipline, so that political science is increasingly reflective of and accessible to people everywhere.

 **What do you think about virtual commencement?**

 I think virtual commencement made sense given the unprecedented health crisis we’re living in. I respect our country’s medical professionals and I want to protect family, neighbors, and friends. At the same time, I’m very much looking forward to reuniting with friends, classmates, and faculty on campus for a future in-person celebration. Everyone says it’s the people who make college special, and that rings truer than ever now that we’re all dispersed.

 **What are your post-graduation plans, and do they include Brazil?**

 Pandemic permitting, this fall I’ll be a master’s student in Latin American Studies at Oxford. In this and future endeavors, I’d love to continue learning about Brazil! I know I’ve barely scratched the surface of the country’s complexity—as someone once quoted to me, “o Brasil não é para principiantes”. I would be lucky to return.

 *Interview conducted by Kathleen Barrow, Brazil Office Fellow*



 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ Brazil Studies ](/programs-initiatives/brazil-studies)
 
 

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