Prof. Rafael Mesquita

Biography

Prof. Rafael Mesquita is Assistant Professor of International Relations in the Department of Political Science at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) in Recife, Brazil. His research builds original datasets on areas of international politics where open data is scarce, from the diplomatic networks of emerging powers to the United Nations, using network analysis and natural language processing.

With Renato Lira Brito he co-authored Cyber, Digital, and Tech Diplomacy (Springer, 2026), which argues for distinguishing the three domains. He coordinates a CNPq-funded research program on multilateralism involving universities in Brazil, France and Germany, and has consulted for the United Nations on the Data Diplomacy Project. He holds a PhD in Political Science.