Prof Jaime Baeza Freer
The ANU Australian Studies Institute (AuSI) is delighted to introduce Prof Jaime Baeza Freer, a fellow in the 2025 Visiting Fellowship Program.
Prof Jaime Baeza Freer's research examines the emerging concept of the South Pacific as a geopolitical space that connects Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands with the west coast of South America—particularly Chile, Peru, and to a lesser extent Ecuador and Colombia. Regarding Chile and Australia there is the idea of a geopolitical kinship that has been overlooked by the literature. He is also analysing how shared strategic interests, defence cooperation, and broader political and economic ties are beginning to shape a new regional framework that has not yet been fully conceptualised in academic literature.
During his fellowship, Jaime is working on two main outputs:
- A peer-reviewed journal article (Q1) focused on the evolution of the Chile–Australia bilateral relationship as a driver of regional cooperation.
- A book-length research project that develops the historical, strategic, and normative foundations of the South Pacific as a new geopolitical concept that encompasses both rims of the Pacific.
In addition, Jaime is conducting interviews with policymakers, diplomats, academics, and industry actors in Australia and abroad, in order to gather multi-perspective insights on regional security, cooperation, and emerging risks.
“Being awarded this fellowship at AuSI has been a delight and a blessing, both intellectually and personally. It has allowed me to rethink the role of South America within the broader Asia Pacific and South Pacific conversation, to engage directly with Australian policy communities, and to imagine new bridges across the Pacific. I am deeply grateful for the support I have received. Also, my goal is to keep fostering the study of a greater bilateral relationship between Australia and Chile. I hope this work contributes to a long-term dialogue between our regions and a lasting contribution with the Institute.”
- Prof Jaime Baeza Freer, Visiting Fellow, ANU Australian Studies Institute
Prof Jaime Baeza Freer holds a PhD in Political Science and is a mid-career professional with experience in academia, political advising, and international consulting across Latin America. He brings broad expertise in Latin American politics, Asia Pacific, U.S.–Latin America relations, civil-military affairs, and comparative political systems. He has a proven ability to build institutional partnerships, support development initiatives, and lead public affairs strategies. He is highly skilled in research and teaching in academic environments and also research-based policy advising, coalition-building, and regional cooperation.
Currently, Jaime is a research professor at FLACSO Ecuador and political advisor in que native Chile. He is a former Deputy Director of Chile’s National Academy for Political and Strategic Studies (ANEPE), Non-Resident Fellow at American University and faculty member at the University of Chile. He has been a Visting Scholar at Georgetown University, University of Bath and the Centennial Center of the American Political Science Association. He is also a frequent contributor to national and international media.