Brett J. Kyle -- Associate Professor, University of Nebraska at Omaha, UW-Madison Political Science PhD -- Comparative Politics, Latin America.


Brett J. Kyle

I am a teacher and scholar of Latin American politics, human rights, democracy, authoritarianism, and civil-military relations.

At the University of Nebraska at Omaha, I am an Associate Professor of Political Science and the Orville D. Menard Distinguished Faculty Fellow in Political Science. I am a faculty member in the Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) and the Goldstein Center for Human Rights (GCHR). I currently serve as the Director of International Studies and as Chair of the Graduate Program in Political Science.

My most recent book, State Violence and Democracy in Latin America: Inequality, the Rule of Law, and Public Order Violence (2026), with Tricia D. Olsen and Andrew G. Reiter, analyzes the resurgence of state violence in Latin America. We investigate the paradox of the alarming rise in state-led violence following an era of human rights reform and democratic state building. We argue that underlying legacy conditions—uneven state capacity, weak rule of law, and socioeconomic inequalities—drive state violence under democracy. Political leaders securitize a range of issues such as drugs, migration, and protest, treating them as threats to be met with state violence that promises public order, but this approach fails to address the legacy conditions and further undermines democracy. We document the proliferation of repressive state institutions and impunity for state violence throughout the region. Through case studies of Brazil, Mexico, and Peru, we highlight the issues of police violence, violence at borders and against migrants, and economically motivated violence in the region today.

I am also the author of Military Courts, Civil-Military Relations, and the Legal Battle for Democracy: The Politics of Military Justice (2021, also with Reiter), which examines military justice systems in 120 countries over 200+ years, and Recycling Dictators in Latin American Elections: Legacies of Military Rule (2016), which explains former military regime officials' candidacies and performance in presidential elections in Third Wave democracies in Latin America. My work can also be found in the journals Armed Forces & Society, Law & Society Review, and the NACLA Report on the Americas.

Research

Military Rebellion in Latin America

In this project, I investigate the use of force or threat of force among militaries in Latin America to influence government decision making. Acts of military rebellion stop short of overthrowing civilian government and instituting military rule, yet they challenge civilian control of the armed forces and undermine the basic principle of democracy in which leaders answer to the voting public through routine elections, not to military personnel through threats and coercion. I catalog military rebellion in the region from 1945 to 2020 to develop a new understanding of military political influence.

State Violence and Democracy in Latin America

My most recent book, State Violence and Democracy in Latin America: Inequality, the Rule of Law, and Public Order Violence (2026), with Tricia D. Olsen (University of Minnesota) and Andrew G. Reiter (Mount Holyoke College), examines violence carried out by police, military, intelligence services, border and immigration agencies, and paramilitary national guards in contemporary Latin America. Since democratization in the 1980s-90s, countries in Latin America have passed many of the tests of democratic consolidation—holding repeated free and fair elections, peacefully transferring power from one elected administration to another, and weathering political and economic crises. Moreover, Latin American countries made unprecedented efforts to deter future human rights abuses by putting perpetrators of historical state violence on trial, establishing truth commissions, reforming constitutions, and founding national human rights institutions. Despite these successes, there is a resurgence of state violence in the region driven by elected officials turning to heavy-handed policing, relying on security services to pursue state economic interests, and embracing a securitized response to drugs and migration.

We argue that legacy conditions—uneven state capacity, weak rule of law, and socioeconomic inequalities—in today's democracies drive a securitized approach to governing challenges promising public order through state violence. First, the violent elements of the state, such as militarized police or the armed forces, are highly developed while non-violent state capacity is ineffective or overwhelmed. Second, weak rule of law fails to restrain criminal violence and violent state responses. Third, social inequalities activate electoral incentives to target marginalized groups. Public order violence exacerbates the legacy conditions and undermines democracy.

We document the proliferation of repressive state institutions in the region in the present day, identifying 286 active forces across the 18 countries of our study. We highlight the sources and prevalence of state violence through three case studies: state violence in policing in Brazil, state violence at borders and against migrants in Mexico, and economically motivated state violence in Peru. We conclude the book by examining the legal mechanisms for impunity for state violence in the region, including the use of states of exception that suspend many constitutional guarantees of civil rights and civil liberties, pardons and amnesties for state forces, and military court jurisdiction for cases of human rights abuses.

Military Courts, Civil-Military Relations, and the Legal Battle for Democracy: The Politics of Military Justice

My second book, Military Courts, Civil-Military Relations, and the Legal Battle for Democracy: The Politics of Military Justice (2021), with Andrew G. Reiter (Mount Holyoke College), examines military justice systems in democracies around the world.

Military courts sit at the intersection of many issues of importance to modern democratic states—civilian control of the armed forces, equal justice under law, respect for human rights and accountability when violations occur. Military justice systems have the potential to serve all of these goals or the potential to gravely threaten them.

We assess military legal powers through an innovative framework and a newly created dataset of 120 countries that were democratic for at least one year from 1974 to 2017. In systems we classify as "full subordination," military justice is narrowly defined to have jurisdiction over only military personnel for offenses internal to the institution and necessary to maintain good order and discipline in the forces. In the category of "jurisdictional contestation," military and civilian authorities fight over legal prerogatives. Militaries claim jurisdiction over their own personnel for essentially all crimes—including human rights violations against civilians—and use their court systems to insulate themselves from accountability. In systems of "military overreach," militaries extend their legal power over civilians, turning military justice into a tool of repression against the general public. We argue that the full subordination system is the only one compatible with democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights, and good civil-military relations. Militaries should not exercise power unchecked by civilian authority in a democratic system.

While we are focused primarily on the contemporary era, our work is deeply historical, stretching back over 200 years for many European and Latin American cases. We find several important patterns. First, military legal subordination has increased over time. A larger proportion of states has achieved a status of full subordination in the present day than ever before. The share of states in the full subordination category was steady for much of the 20th century until experiencing dramatic improvement coinciding with the Third Wave of democratization and after the end of the Cold War. Despite global improvements, however, jurisdictional contestation and military overreach systems persist in many places. Our findings also confirm the importance of military legal subordination. We find that higher levels of military legal subordination are associated with better democratic practices and respect for human rights. Indeed, gaining control over jurisdiction for legal processes is a crucial first step in the successful pursuit of human rights trials to hold former authoritarians accountable and to prevent continued impunity in a new democracy.

We present a dynamic model explaining reform and backsliding in military justice systems over time. Our theory centers on the interactions of three principal domestic actors—government, military, and civilian high courts—in a decision-making nexus shaped by a variety of domestic and international influences, including non-governmental organizations, public sentiment, international human rights courts, international organizations, and external states. We illustrate positive and negative change through extended case studies of Portugal, Colombia, Fiji, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, and the United States.

Our first two articles in this research agenda, "Dictating Justice: Human Rights and Military Courts in Latin America," and "Militarized Justice in New Democracies: Explaining the Process of Military Court Reform in Latin America," were published in Armed Forces & Society (January 2012) and Law & Society Review (June 2013), respectively. Together, these two articles establish the state of military court reform in Latin America and the process by which 13 countries in the region rolled back military ability to use their courts as a shield against impunity. We identify two major pathways of reform—one, unilateral civilian efforts and two, a consultative process of civil-military bargaining. We find that military compliance with reform is greater when civilian leadership engages with the military. Unilateral efforts most often alter formal laws but fail to change practices. While successful reform of military court jurisdiction is a positive development for the rule of law, we caution that success through bargaining suggests continued challenges in civilian control of the military.

Recycling Dictators in Latin American Elections: Legacies of Military Rule

My first book, Recycling Dictators in Latin American Elections: Legacies of Military Rule (2016), investigates the phenomenon of members of former authoritarian regimes who run for elected office in the democratic era.

Former repressors have asserted themselves in democratic politics in many countries of the world, meeting with varied levels of success. These candidates occupy a unique place in the post-transition political landscape. Despite the wealth of research on democratic consolidation and concern about new democracies backsliding into semi-authoritarianism, ex-dictators' role in electoral politics has not previously been studied systematically. My book presents the first comprehensive analysis of former military regime members in new democracies and contributes to our understanding of popular and elite commitment to democracy in Latin America by investigating their role in competitive elections.

I define recycled dictators as individuals associated with non-democratic government who enter electoral politics after democratization. Broadly understood, these may be figures emerging from one of many authoritarian contexts such as a one-party state, civilian-led dictatorship, or military regime. In my book, I study candidates who occupied the role of dictator, a cabinet position, or served as an officer in the armed forces during one of the military dictatorships that immediately preceded the Third Wave of democratization in 12 countries across Latin America. I identify 63 ex-authoritarian candidacies in presidential contests. Seven former military government officials have been elected to the presidency in their countries.

I find that recycled dictators compete in presidential elections at higher rates in cases of lower "democratic continuity"—the interaction of historical democratic experience with military rule and their dual legacy in the contemporary democratic era. Regarding recycled dictators' showing at the polls, my book challenges the notion that Latin American voters lack commitment to democracy or are nostalgic for a non-democratic past. Most ex-regime officials finish with only single-digit vote share. Moreover, viable ex-authoritarian candidates—those who achieve +10% of the vote—exhibit shared characteristics. I elaborate a typology with three distinct types of successful recycled dictators: (1) Regime Heir—a candidate who assumed the mantle of the regime in which he served; (2) Rogue Officer—a candidate who led a military uprising with an anti-corruption message and who quickly parlayed that message into a political career; and (3) Caudillo Democrat—a candidate who built a more traditional path to the presidency by holding lower-level public office and constructing a party over time, yet who still ran promising authoritarian solutions to widespread, intractable challenges in the country.

My theory accurately explains the election of Jair Bolsonaro to the presidency in Brazil in 2018. An army officer in the period of military rule and after the transition, Bolsonaro built a career in politics as a member of congress and routinely advocated authoritarian approaches to national political and social challenges. As I explain in this piece in the Washington Post's Monkey Cage, his success in the 2018 presidential contest was made possible by the collapse of the democratic opposition, notably the Workers' Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores, PT) in the wake of the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff and the electoral court's decision to bar former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from running. When autocrats run for office, it matters who the opposition is.

Publications

Books

Academic Articles

Invited Works

  • "Military Courts for Counter-Terrorism," in The Elgar Concise Encyclopedia of Terrorism Law (Cheltenham, UK: Elgar Publishing, forthcoming), with Andrew G. Reiter.
  • "Lithium Production and Political Institutions in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile," in Exchanges of Culture, Policy, and Goods from 1492 to the Future: The Americas Reach Out, ed. Joshua Hyles (Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2024), with J. Richard Kyle.
  • Military Legal Power, Unchecked, North American Congress on Latin America: Report on the Americas, Vol. 55, Issue 4 (November 2023), with Andrew G. Reiter.
  • Honduras, in The Encyclopedia of Transitional Justice, eds. Lavinia Stan and Nadya Nedelsky, 2nd edition (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2023).
  • National Commissioner for the Protection of Human Rights in Honduras, in The Encyclopedia of Transitional Justice, eds. Lavinia Stan and Nadya Nedelsky, 2nd edition (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2023).
  • Diálogo entre autores: Intervencionismo militar en las democracias latinoamericanas (Brett J. Kyle and Andrew G. Reiter's Military Courts, Civil-Military Relations, and the Legal Battle for Democracy: The Politics of Military Justice and Julio Ríos-Figueroa's Constitutional Courts as Mediators: Armed Conflict, Civil-Military Relations, and the Rule of Law in Latin America). Política y Gobierno 28:2 (2021): 1-15, with Andrew G. Reiter and Julio Ríos-Figueroa.
  • "A New Dawn for Latin American Militaries," NACLA Report on the Americas, Volume 51, Issue 1 (March 2019), with Andrew G. Reiter.
  • The Law, Security and Civil Society Freedoms, in Civil Society, Conflict and Violence, edited by Wolfgang Dorner and Regina List (Bloomsbury Academic, 2012), with Mandeep Tiwana.
  • Honduras, in The Encyclopedia of Transitional Justice, eds. Lavinia Stan and Nadya Nedelsky (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2012).
  • National Commissioner for the Protection of Human Rights in Honduras, in The Encyclopedia of Transitional Justice, eds. Lavinia Stan and Nadya Nedelsky (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2012).

Public Scholarship

Work in Progress

  • "Military Rebellion in Latin America"
  • "Ex-Military Rulers' Presidential Campaigns in Bolivia, Guatemala, and Peru"

Teaching

At the University of Nebraska at Omaha, I teach the following courses:

In our graduate independent study course, PSCI 8980 Research in Political Science, I have advised a dozen graduate student projects in Comparative Politics and International Relations, ranging from studies of authoritarian durability in Iran and democratic backsliding in Malaysia to refugee migration patterns from the Middle East to Europe and nationalist mobilization in Japan and South Korea.

I contributed to the establishment of the Human Rights Minor, and I have created or substantially reformed the following courses in the university curriculum:

    PSCI 3240 Politics and Practice of Human Rights

    PSCI 4280 International Relations of Latin America

    PSCI 4350 Democracy

    PSCI 4360 Authoritarian Regimes

    PSCI 4370 Generals and Politicians: Civil-Military Relations

I make a consistent effort to learn new teaching methods to enhance accessibility and effectiveness, including through participation in workshops and conferences such as the College and University Educators Workshop at the Council on Foreign Relations; UW-Milwaukee Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) Summer Teacher Institute, Sustainable by Design: Re-shaping the Human Landscape of Latin American Cities; and the Missouri Valley History Conference Workshop: The Classroom as a Space to (Role-)Play—Teaching the Second Crusade with "Reacting to the Past (RTTP)."

I routinely give guest lectures in colleagues' courses on a variety of topics in comparative politics, international relations, international studies, and human rights. Through our Dual Enrollment program, I have given guest talks in Omaha Public Schools (OPS) on Mexican politics and have conducted curriculum workshops for OPS teachers on US-Latin American relations, democracy, and human rights.

Brett J. Kyle Curriculum Vitae

My CV is available for download in PDF format as well as below.

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Academic Appointments

University of Nebraska at Omaha, Department of Political Science

  • Director of International Studies (2025-present)
  • Associate Professor (2021-present)
  • Assistant Professor (2015-21)

University of Texas at Austin, Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies

  • Visiting Scholar (2014-2015)

Marquette University, Department of Political Science

  • Visiting Assistant Professor (2013-2014)

Education

University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • Ph.D. in Political Science (2013)

University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • M.A. in Political Science (2007)

University of Texas at Austin

  • B.A. in Government, with highest honors (2004)

American University

  • Washington Semester Foreign Policy Program (2002)

Publications

Books
  • State Violence and Democracy in Latin America: Inequality, the Rule of Law, and Public Order Violence. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2026, with Tricia D. Olsen and Andrew G. Reiter.
  • Military Courts, Civil-Military Relations, and the Legal Battle for Democracy: The Politics of Military Justice. New York: Routledge, 2021, with Andrew G. Reiter.
  • Recycling Dictators in Latin American Elections: Legacies of Military Rule. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2016.
Academic Articles
  • “Militarized Justice in New Democracies: Explaining the Process of Military Court Reform in Latin America.” Law & Society Review 47:2 (2013): 375-407, with Andrew G. Reiter.
  • “Dictating Justice: Military Courts and Human Rights in Latin America.” Armed Forces and Society 38:1 (2012): 27-48, with Andrew G. Reiter.
Invited Works
  • “Military Courts for Counter-Terrorism,” in The Elgar Concise Encyclopedia of Terrorism Law (Cheltenham, UK: Elgar Publishing, forthcoming), with Andrew G. Reiter.
  • “Lithium Production and Political Institutions in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile,” in Exchanges of Culture, Policy, and Goods from 1492 to the Future: The Americas Reach Out, ed. Joshua Hyles (Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2024), with J. Richard Kyle.
  • “Military Legal Power, Unchecked,” NACLA Report on the Americas, Volume 55, Issue 4 (2023), with Andrew G. Reiter.
  • “Honduras,” in The Encyclopedia of Transitional Justice, eds. Lavinia Stan and Nadya Nedelsky, 2nd edition (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2023).
  • “National Commissioner for the Protection of Human Rights in Honduras,” in The Encyclopedia of Transitional Justice, eds. Lavinia Stan and Nadya Nedelsky, 2nd edition (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2023).
  • “Diálogo entre autores: Intervencionismo militar en las democracias latinoamericanas” (Brett J. Kyle and Andrew G. Reiter's Military Courts, Civil-Military Relations, and the Legal Battle for Democracy: The Politics of Military Justice and Julio Ríos-Figueroa's Constitutional Courts as Mediators: Armed Conflict, Civil-Military Relations, and the Rule of Law in Latin America). Política y Gobierno, 28:2 (2021): 1-15, with Andrew G. Reiter and Julio Ríos-Figueroa.
  • “A New Dawn for Latin American Militaries,” NACLA Report on the Americas, Volume 51, Issue 1 (2019), with Andrew G. Reiter.
  • “The Law, Security and Civil Society Freedoms,” in Civil Society, Conflict and Violence, eds. Wolgang Dörner and Regina List (Bloomsbury Academic, 2012), with Mandeep Tiwana.
  • “Honduras,” in The Encyclopedia of Transitional Justice, eds. Lavinia Stan and Nadya Nedelsky (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2012).
  • “National Commissioner for the Protection of Human Rights in Honduras,” in The Encyclopedia of Transitional Justice, eds. Lavinia Stan and Nadya Nedelsky (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2012).
Public Scholarship
  • “The 2024 'Electoral Super-Cycle' in Latin America,” OLLAS Blog, June 2024.
  • “For Hemispheric Unity, a Change in U.S. Foreign Policy is Needed,” NACLA Report on the Americas, April 7, 2022, with Andrew G. Reiter.
  • “Why Have Military Courts Become Such a Popular Tool of Repression?” Political Violence at a Glance, January 24, 2022, with Andrew G. Reiter.
  • “Brazil's most popular politician, Lula, won't be on the October presidential ballot. Here's what comes next,” Monkey Cage, Washington Post, September 5, 2018, with Andrew G. Reiter.
  • “Militarization Redux: Across the Region, Latin America's Militaries are Regaining Power through the Court Systems,” NACLA Report on the Americas, July 27, 2018, with Andrew G. Reiter.
  • “Justice and the Generals.” Washington Report on the Hemisphere, Vol. 22, Nos. 23-24, December 17, 2002.
  • “Recent Media Extravaganza Revives Immigration Debate.” Washington Report on the Hemisphere, Vol. 22, Nos. 21-22, December 3, 2002.
  • “Uruguay Faces Regional Challenges.” Washington Report on the Hemisphere, Vol. 22, No. 19, October 22, 2002, with Jovana Garzón.
  • “Statistics & Resources: UNESCO’s Comparative Education Study.” Washington Report on the Hemisphere, Vol. 22, No. 19, October 22, 2002, with Jovana Garzón.

Honors & Awards

  • Orville D. Menard Distinguished Faculty Fellow in Political Science, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2024
  • Faculty Development Fellowship, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2022
  • Goldstein Center for Human Rights, Research and Creative Activity Grant, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2022
  • Mildred Potter Hovland Journal Article Award, Department of Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2012 (for “Militarized Justice in New Democracies: Explaining the Process of Military Court Reform in Latin America,” with Andrew G. Reiter)
  • UW-Madison Department of Political Science Summer Initiative Award, 2012
  • Vilas Travel Grant, Graduate School, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2012
  • Vilas Travel Grant, Graduate School, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2011
  • Institute of International Education, Fulbright U.S. Student Program, 2011 alternate
  • Human Rights Initiative Dissertation Fellowship, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2010
  • Vilas Travel Grant, Graduate School, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2009
  • Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies Field Research Grant, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2009
  • Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship (Portuguese), 2007
  • University Fellowship, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2006-2007
  • Vilas Award, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2006
  • Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Junior Fellow, 2004 alternate
  • The William Jennings Bryan Award—1st Place Government Honors Senior Thesis, University of Texas at Austin, 2004

Professional Presentations

Conference Presentations
  • “Military Rebellion in Latin America,” Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society, Reston, VA, October 14, 2023
  • “Military Rebellion in Latin America,” Latin American Studies Association Congress, Vancouver, Canada (online), May 26, 2023
  • “Military Rebellion in Latin America,” Latin American Studies Association Congress, San Francisco, CA (online), May 5, 2022
  • “Lithium Extraction and Political Institutions in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile,” Eugene Scassa Mock Organization of American States (ESMOAS) Academic Conference, San Antonio, TX (online), November 13, 2021
  • “CRN 53 Transitional Justice Roundtable: New Books in the Field (Military Courts, Civil-Military Relations, and the Legal Battle for Democracy: The Politics of Military Justice), Law and Society Association, Chicago, IL (online), May 29, 2021
  • “Opportunity for Development or One More Resource Curse? Lithium Extraction and Political Institutions in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile,” Latin American Studies Association Congress, Boston, MA, 24 May 2019
  • “Ex-Military Rulers' Presidential Campaigns in Bolivia, Guatemala, and Peru,” Latin American Studies Association Congress, Barcelona, Spain, 26 May 2018
  • “Recycling Dictators: Former Military Regime Governors in Gubernatorial Elections in Argentina,” Latin American Studies Association Congress, Lima, Peru, 29 April 2017
  • “Recycling Dictators: Former Military Regime Governors in Argentina,” Annual Political Science Association National Conference, Philadelphia, PA, 3 September 2016
  • “Military Legal Prerogatives across the Globe,” with Andrew G. Reiter, Annual Meeting of the Law and Society Association, New Orleans, LA, 2 June 2016
  • “Recycling Dictators: Former Military Regime Governors in Argentina,” Annual Midwest Political Science Association National Conference, Chicago, IL, 7 April 2016
  • “Courts and Coups: Military Legal Prerogatives across the Globe,” with Andrew G. Reiter, Annual Meeting of the Law and Society Association, Minneapolis, MN, May 2014
  • “Recycling Authoritarians: Ex-Regime Officials in New Democracies,” Latin American Studies Association Congress, Chicago, IL, 23 May 2014
  • “Recycling Authoritarians: Ex-Regime Officials in New Democracies,” Annual Midwest Political Science Association National Conference, Chicago, IL, 6 April 2014
  • “Asset or Albatross? Ex-Authoritarians and Historical Public Dialogue in Latin American Presidential Campaigns,” Columbia University Institute for the Study of Human Rights, Alliance for Historical Dialogue and Accountability, New York, NY, 7 December 2013
  • “Lobbying with the Sword: Military Rebellion in Contemporary Latin America,” Latin American Studies Association Congress, Washington, DC, 30 May 2013
  • “Lobbying with the Sword: Military Rebellion in Contemporary Latin America,” 71st Annual Midwest Political Science Association National Conference, Chicago, IL 13 April 2013
  • “Roads to Reform: Typologies of Changing Military Courts in Latin America,” with Andrew Reiter, 2011 Annual Meeting of the Law and Society Association, San Francisco, California, 4 June 2011
  • “Recycling Dictators: Ex-Regime Candidates in New Democracies,” 69th Annual Midwest Political Science Association National Conference, Chicago, Illinois, 31 March 2011
  • “Dictating Justice: Military Courts and Judicial Reform in Latin America,” with Andrew Reiter, 2010 Annual Meeting of the Law and Society Association, Chicago, Illinois, 28 May 2010
  • “Why Militaries Rebel: Military Mobilization in Contemporary Latin America,” 2009 International Biennial Conference of the Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society, Chicago, Illinois, 25 October 2009
  • “Dictating Justice: Military Rule and Judicial Reform in Latin America,” with Andrew Reiter, 67th Annual Midwest Political Science Association National Conference, Chicago, Illinois, 2 April 2009
  • “Recycling Dictators: Authoritarian Leaders and Democratic Integration,” 66th Annual Midwest Political Science Association National Conference, Chicago, Illinois, 3 April 2008
  • “Causes for Civil War and Failed Revolution in El Salvador,” 24th Annual Institute of Latin American Studies Student Association Conference, Austin, Texas, 14 February 2004
Public Talks
  • “Latin American Contributions to Human Rights Law from 1948 to Present,” University of Nebraska at Omaha, Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) charla and Human Rights Forum, September 26, 2024
  • “2024: The Biggest Election Year in History,” UNO Political Science Department Pizza and Politics, September 25, 2024
  • “Military Dictatorship in Brazil,” Cinemateca at Film Streams, September 14, 2023
  • “Dictatorship and Human Rights in South America during the Global Cold War: 50 Years after the Coups in Chile and Uruguay,” University of Nebraska at Omaha, September 7, 2023
  • “Political Trends in Latin America,” Great Decisions: Elmwood Tower Community Center, July 16, 2023
  • “Why do people migrate? Conversatorio: A Human Rights Forum and OLLAS Charla,” Carne y Arena KANEKO Panel, June 30, 2022
  • “Military Courts, Civil-Military Relations, and the Legal Battle for Democracy: The Politics of Military Justice,” Constitution Day, University of Nebraska at Omaha, September 16, 2021
  • “Is Venezuela a Failed State and How is this Affecting its Neighbors,” Nebraska World Affairs Council, June 29, 2021
  • “The Politics of Military Justice: A Global Study,” with Andrew G. Reiter, Global Military Justice Reform Town Hall 14, April 6, 2021
  • “Pandemic and Human Rights in Latin America,” with Dr. Pedro Cantisano and Rev. Dr. Helen Boursier, Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) charla and Human Rights Forum, University of Nebraska at Omaha, September 29, 2020
  • “Careers in Human Rights,” Human Rights Week, University of Nebraska at Omaha, September 25, 2020
  • “Protest and Change in Venezuela & Beyond: Current Human Rights Issues in Latin America,” with Cristián Doña-Reveco, Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) charla and Human Rights Forum, University of Nebraska at Omaha, February 11, 2020
  • “Political Re-Ordering in Latin America: Presidential Elections, Peace Accords, and the End of UNASUR,” with Dr. Cristián Doña-Reveco and Dr. Maria Arbelaez, Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) charla, University of Nebraska at Omaha, September 18, 2018
  • “2016 Presidential Election,” Wells Fargo Latin Connection Team Member Network, October 27, 2016

Teaching

Associate Professor, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2021-present

  • Introduction to Comparative Politics (Spring 2022)
  • Introduction to Latin America (Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025, Spring 2026)
  • Latin American Politics (Fall 2021, Fall 2023)
  • International Relations of Latin America (Spring 2022, Fall 2025)
  • Democracy (Fall 2024)
  • Politics & Practice of Human Rights (Fall 2021, Fall 2023, Fall 2024)
  • Seminar in Comparative Politics-Graduate (Fall 2021, Spring 2023, Fall 2023)

Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 2015-2021

  • Introduction to Political Science (Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016-Honors)
  • Introduction to Comparative Politics (Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021)
  • Latin American Politics (Fall 2015, Spring 2017, Fall 2018, Spring 2020)
  • Inter-American Politics (Spring 2016)
  • International Relations of Latin America (Fall 2017, Spring 2019, Fall 2020)
  • Democracy (Fall 2016, Spring 2018, Fall 2019, Spring 2021)
  • Politics & Practice of Human Rights (Fall 2017, Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Fall 2020)
  • Senior Capstone (Spring 2017)
  • Seminar in Comparative Politics-Graduate (Summer 2016, Summer 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021)

Visiting Assistant Professor, Marquette University, 2013-2014

  • Introduction to Comparative Politics (Spring 2014)
  • Latin American Politics (Fall 2013)
  • Democracy, Authoritarianism, and Totalitarianism (Spring 2014)

Teaching Assistant, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2007-2012

  • Introduction to American Politics (Fall 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2012)
  • Global Challenges: An Introduction to International Studies (Fall 2011)
  • Latin American Politics (Fall 2007)
  • Transitional Justice (Spring 2008)
  • Comparative Study of Genocide (Fall 2009)

Program Talks

  • “Authoritarianism vs. Democracy,” Nebraska Civic Leadership Program, May 28, 2025
  • “Authoritarianism vs. Democracy,” Nebraska Civic Leadership Program, June 4, 2024
  • “Human Rights,” BOLD (Young Balkan Leaders) Civic Engagement Fellowship Program, August 17, 2023
  • “Latin American Politics: National and International,” OLLAS Summer School, University of Nebraska at Omaha, June 7, 2023
  • “Authoritarianism vs. Democracy,” Nebraska Civic Leaders Program, June 6, 2023
  • “Authoritarianism vs. Democracy,” Nebraska Civic Leaders Program, June 7, 2022
  • “Strategic Deterrence Session: History and Political Context of South America,” UNO Strategic Leadership Fellows, February 23, 2022
  • “Strategic Deterrence Session: History and Political Context of South America,” UNO Strategic Leadership Fellows, April 28, 2021
  • “Human Rights in the 21st Century,” Dual Enrollment Teachers Workshop, University of Nebraska at Omaha, April 3, 2019
  • “Democracy and Dictatorship,” Dual Enrollment Teachers Workshop, University of Nebraska at Omaha, September 6, 2017
  • “US-Latin American Relations,” Dual Enrollment Teachers Workshop, University of Nebraska at Omaha, November 9, 2016
  • “Foundations and Fault Lines in Latin American Politics,” Nebraska Civic Leadership Program, June 6, 2016

Course Visits

  • “Understanding the US-Mexico Border,” Introduction to International Relations, University of Nebraska at Omaha, November 19, 2025
  • “Understanding the US-Mexico Border,” Introduction to International Relations, University of Nebraska at Omaha, April 16, 2025
  • “US Cold War in Central America,” War, Religion, and Human Rights, University of Nebraska at Omaha, March 3, 2025
  • “Understanding the US-Mexico Border,” Introduction to International Relations, University of Nebraska at Omaha, November 20, 2024
  • “Understanding the US-Mexico Border,” Introduction to International Relations, University of Nebraska at Omaha, April 22, 2024
  • “US-Mexico: The Intermestic Agenda,” Introduction to International Relations, University of Nebraska at Omaha, November 7, 2023
  • “Government and Politics of Mexico,” AP Comparative Government Bryan High School, University of Nebraska at Omaha, March 29, 2023
  • “Human Rights,” International Studies: Global Challenges, University of Nebraska at Omaha, February 17, 2022
  • “International Relations of Mexico: Migration,” Introduction to International Relations, University of Nebraska at Omaha, November 9, 2021
  • “Human Rights,” International Studies: Global Challenges, University of Nebraska at Omaha, November 2, 2021
  • “Legacies of Military Rule,” History of Human Rights in Latin America, University of Nebraska at Omaha, October 5, 2021
  • “Comparative Research on Military Justice,” with Andrew G. Reiter, Cornell Law School, April 29, 2021
  • “Transitional Justice: Accountability after Mass Atrocity,” War, Religion, and Human Rights, University of Nebraska at Omaha, February 2, 2021
  • “Human Rights,” International Studies: Global Challenges, University of Nebraska at Omaha, February 1, 2021
  • “The Idea of Democracy,” Introduction to Latino/Latin American Studies, University of Nebraska at Omaha, October 7, 2020
  • “State and the Military,” Introduction to Latino/Latin American Studies, University of Nebraska at Omaha, October 5, 2020
  • “Human Rights,” International Studies: Global Challenges, University of Nebraska at Omaha, September 2, 2020
  • “Military Politics in Latin America,” Latin American Politics, Nebraska Wesleyan University, February 18, 2020
  • “Transitional Justice in Sierra Leone,” Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Nebraska at Omaha, February 11, 2020
  • “International Relations of Latin America, Flashpoint: Mexico,” Introduction to International Relations, University of Nebraska at Omaha, November 12, 2019
  • “Human Rights,” International Studies: Global Challenges, University of Nebraska at Omaha, November 6, 2019
  • “Military Rule in Latin America,” Introduction to Comparative Politics, University of Nebraska at Omaha, November 5, 2019
  • “Visuals in Presentations,” Senior Capstone, University of Nebraska at Omaha, March 26, 2019
  • “Government and Politics of Mexico,” Omaha North High School, March 1, 2019
  • “Government and Politics of Mexico,” Omaha South High School, February 26, 2019
  • “Transitional Justice: Accountability after Mass Atrocity,” War, Religion, and Human Rights, University of Nebraska at Omaha, January 31, 2019
  • “United States Foreign Policy Toward Latin America,” US Foreign Policy, University of Nebraska at Omaha, November 13, 2018
  • “Dictatorship and Democratization in Latin America,” Introduction to Latino/Latin American Studies, University of Nebraska at Omaha, October 31, 2018
  • “International Relations and Human Rights in Latin America,” Introduction to International Relations, University of Nebraska at Omaha, October 29, 2018
  • “Government and Politics of Mexico,” Omaha South High School, February 27, 2018
  • “Marxism,” Introduction to International Relations, University of Nebraska at Omaha, February 12, 2018
  • “State Terror in Argentina, 1976-83,” Religion and Human Rights, University of Nebraska at Omaha, November 13, 2017
  • “International Relations of Latin America, Flashpoint: Mexico,” Introduction to International Relations-Honors, University of Nebraska at Omaha, November 7, 2017
  • “International Relations of Latin America, Flashpoint: Mexico,” Introduction to International Relations, University of Nebraska at Omaha, April 4, 2017
  • “Government and Politics of Mexico,” Omaha South High School, March 2, 2017
  • “Military Legal Prerogatives across the Globe,” Senior Capstone, University of Nebraska at Omaha, September 20, 2016
  • “International Relations of Latin America, Flashpoint: Mexico,” Introduction to International Relations, University of Nebraska at Omaha, March 29, 2016
  • “International Relations of Latin America, Flashpoint: Mexico,” Introduction to International Relations, University of Nebraska at Omaha, November 17, 2015
  • “International Relations of Latin America, Flashpoint: Mexico,” Introduction to International Relations, University of Nebraska at Omaha, November 16, 2015

Service

Departmental Service
    Department of Political Science, University of Nebraska at Omaha
  • American Politics 2-Year Instructor Search Committee, 2025-26
  • Middle East Politics Faculty Search Committee, 2024-25
  • Comparative Politics 1-Year Faculty Search Committee, 2023
  • NCITE Faculty Search Committee, 2020-21
  • Undergraduate Program Committee, 2017-23 (Chair, 2021-22)
  • Graduate Program Committee, 2015-17; 2023-present (Chair, 2023-present)
  • Department Liaison to the Criss Library, 2015-present
    Department of Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Comparative Politics Search Committee, Fall 2010
  • “Review sessions,” presentation for Political Science Teaching Assistants, February 21, 2013
  • “Organizing a Dissertation,” presentation for Political Science Graduate Association, December 8, 2011
  • “Grading,” presentation for Political Science Teaching Assistants, October 8, 2010
  • “Prelim preparation,” presentation for Political Science Graduate Association, May 1, 2009
College Service: Arts and Sciences, University of Nebraska at Omaha
    Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS)
  • Office of Latino/Latin American Studies faculty, 2015-present
  • Cinemateca Committee, 2016
  • Panelist: Closing Panel, 2023 OLLAS Summer School, June 9, 2023
  • Panel Moderator: “Admissions and Financial Aid,” 2023 OLLAS Student Conference, March 10, 2023
    Shirley and Leonard Goldstein Center for Human Rights (GCHR)
  • Goldstein Center for Human Rights Affiliated Faculty, 2017-present
  • Executive Committee, 2018-23
  • Research and Creative Activity Committee Chair/Co-chair, 2017-23
  • Curriculum Committee, 2015-2017
  • Faculty Steering Committee, 2015-2017
    Other CAS Service
  • 5-Year Center Review Committee, Goldstein Center for Human Rights (GCHR), 2024
  • Graduate Advisor and Recruiter Hiring Committee, 2023
  • Educational Policy Committee (EPC), 2020-23
  • Human Rights Essay Contest Award Committee, 2019-23
  • “Our Population“ Degree Discovery Panel, February 19, 2020
  • Classroom Envisioning Focus Group, University of Nebraska at Omaha, February 21, 2017
  • “Advise the Dean: Looking ahead to 2020,” University of Nebraska at Omaha, November 9, 2016
University Service: University of Nebraska at Omaha
  • Graduate Council, 2023-25; Scholarship/Fellowship Committee (Chair), 2024-25
  • Pre-Tenure Faculty Leadership Forum Coordinator/Co-coordinator, Center for Faculty Excellence, 2017-21
  • University Committee on Facilities Planning, 2016-19
  • American Association of University Professors (AAUP) Scholarship Committee (ad hoc), March 2018
  • New Faculty Orientation (Panel: Institutional Quality), August 23, 2019
  • Professional Development Workshop for New Faculty, September 7, 2018
  • New Faculty Orientation Panel, August 24, 2017
  • RPT, Annual Review and Digital Measures Workshop Panel, Center for Faculty Excellence, September 12, 2016
  • UNO Common Reader discussion, August 21, 2016
  • New Faculty Orientation (Panel: Advice on success at UNO), August 15, 2016
Professional Service
  • Reviewer for Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Defence Studies, Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict, Global Environmental Studies, Global Studies Quarterly, Journal of Comparative Politics, Journal of Latino/Latin American Studies, Journal of Regional Security, Onati Socio-Legal Series, Politics and Governance; Cambridge University Press

Other Professional Experience

  • Analyst, Stratfor Global Intelligence, Austin, TX, 2015
  • Project Assistant, Steve Stern, Cluster Hire Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2012-2013
  • Project Assistant, Scott Straus, Human Rights Initiative, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2010
  • Project Assistant, Alexandra Huneeus, School of Law, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2009
  • Research Assistant, Authoritarian Regime and Transition Type Dataset, Department of Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2008
  • Research Associate, Council on Hemispheric Affairs, Washington, DC, 2002

Languages

  • English – Native
  • Spanish – Advanced
  • Brazilian Portuguese – Basic

Professional Affiliations

  • Congress for New Urbanism (CNU Midwest)
  • Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society
  • Latin American Studies Association
  • Mode Shift Omaha

Contact Me

My contact information follows. Email is the best way to get in touch with me.

Postal Address

Department of Political Science
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Arts and Sciences Hall 275
6001 Dodge Street
Omaha, NE 68182

Contact Info

Dept. Phone: +1 (402) 554-3704
Toll-Free Fax: +1 (866) 861-5976
LinkedIn


Copyright © Brett Kyle - 2011-2026