Project ‘Dynamics, Cases and Comparisons (1945-1980)’ rated ‘Excellent’ by FCT

The collective research project Internationalised Humanity: Dynamics, Cases and Comparisons (1945-1980) (Ref. PTDC/HAR-HIS/6257/2020), coordinated by José Pedro Monteiro (CECS researcher until December 2024), has just been classified by FCT (funding entity) as ‘Excellent’.

The jury that evaluated the final project report notes that
“Even without taking into account the external challenges faced by the project team, this would already constitute an excellent set of results. When these circumstances are considered, the richness and breadth of the results achieved become even more impressive. The project has successfully consolidated and generated extensive expertise on the intertwined histories of human rights, humanitarianism and decolonisation. Its work has been closely aligned with broader historiographical developments and international academic networks. The dissemination of results has been exemplary, with a strong and visible presence at major international events, including collaborations with ERC projects.The variety of results from the project, both completed and ongoing, demonstrates a high level of productivity, meeting — and in many cases exceeding — the team’s original ambitions. In addition to a substantial number of publications in Portuguese, the team has been particularly successful in reaching international research audiences. This is evidenced by publications in leading international journals such as Le Mouvement Social, Études Internationales and Cold War History, as well as an upcoming special issue of the journal Itinerario (Cambridge University Press). (…)
Furthermore, the inclusion of chapters in important reference works — such as The Cambridge History of Human Rights and two separate Oxford Handbooks — should ensure the long-term academic impact of the project.
Overall, the project has effectively connected research on Portuguese history — conducted by Portuguese researchers — to broader international debates, exemplifying a high level of both individual and collective excellence.”

José Pedro Monteiro holds a PhD in History from the Institute of Social Sciences – University of Lisbon and was a researcher at the Centre for Communication and Society Studies – University of Minho. His main research interests focus on the historical interconnections between internationalism and imperialism, especially in the post-1945 period. José Pedro Monteiro has participated in several different research projects, both as a junior researcher and as a researcher. Among other publications, in 2017 he co-edited Internationalism, imperialism and the formation of the contemporary world (Palgrave) and, in 2018, he published Portugal and the issue of forced labour: an empire under scrutiny (1944-1962). He was also co-curator of the exhibition ‘The right over oneself: 150 years since the abolition of slavery in the Portuguese empire’, held at the National Parliament (2019). He is currently a researcher at the Centre for the History of Society and Culture at the University of Coimbra.

[Posted: 24-10-2025]