Desmond Arias

Desmond Arias is a graduate student in Political Science who works on issues related to globalization, political order, and violence in the developing world with a focus on Latin America. He is finishing a dissertation on strategies to reduce violence and more effectively guarantee human rights in favelas (shantytowns) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He will teach at Oberlin College next year. He is using his Scott Kloeck-Jenson practitioner internship award to work with Viva Rio, a Brazilian NGO focused on improving the quality of life for poor people in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Desmond’s particular task will be an evaluation of an innovative community policing program called the Grupo de Policiamento em Areas Especias (GPAE — Policing Group in Special Areas). The program was pioneered in south Boston several years ago when the police brokered a deal with drug traffickers to work together to keep violence under control. Desmond will use his knowledge and contacts within particular shantytowns in Rio de Janeiro to help Viva Rio evaluate the effectiveness of the program. The fellowship supports Desmond in his effort to assist an NGO that facilitated his earlier dissertation research.