07 October 2024
King's alum reflects on 'relief and accomplishment' after finishing PhD
Lara Barbiero Pimentel
To mark the end of his PhD, we spoke to alumnus Alberto Cunha, who shared insights into his thesis, the inspiration behind it, his future plans, and the challenges he faced.
Alberto, who studied in the Department of Political Economy at King’s, successfully defended his thesis following a rigorous examination from a panel of academics, known as a viva voce.
What was the title of your PhD work, and what made you choose this?
‘The title of my PhD was Is Germany the EU Regional Hegemon? An Analysis of German Power During the Eurozone Crisis 2009 to 2016. The broad area of my research was about understanding the concept of hegemony and how it relates to power, specifically in the context of Germany's role in the EU during the Eurozone crisis. My work essentially involved two main parts: first, creating a practical definition of hegemony that could be applied in a real-world context. I wanted a definition that could be tested in the specific setting of Germany's actions within the EU. Second, I broke down the Eurozone crisis into four case studies, each of which tested my definition of hegemony in relation to four different kinds of power I identified.
I've always been interested in understanding the Eurozone crisis, which was a formative political event for me. This crisis really defined my formative years in college and affected my country, Portugal, which was one of the countries that had to request economic assistance. So, it was easy for me to become interested in the Eurozone crisis because it genuinely affected my life and the lives of those in my country and the broader European Union for several years.
Another reason is that Germany's role in the crisis was constantly being discussed — in the media, by politicians, everywhere. There was widespread recognition that Germany was a driving force behind many of the decisions being made, whether good or bad. I wanted to understand how this worked in practice. The concept of hegemony kept coming up in discussions about Germany's influence, but I found that it was often used in a vague way without much concrete explanation. I wanted to dig deeper into what this term actually means and how it can be applied in real-world situations, which is why I chose this topic.
What conclusions did you reach in your research, and what do they mean for the future?
One of the key conclusions I reached was that Germany did have a determining influence in at least two parts of the Eurozone crisis. This was evident in the early stages of the crisis, particularly in diagnosing what the crisis was about, which I linked to ideational power, and in the initial reforms that were implemented. However, in later stages, such as the long-term reforms to the banking system and the final assistance to Greece, Germany did not have a determining influence. They were maybe the loudest voice in the room, but they were still just one of many voices.
This conclusion is significant because it challenges the notion that Germany completely dominates the EU. While Germany certainly has substantial influence, especially in the areas where it has the most resources like finance and economics, it does not have unilateral control. This is a positive finding for the European Union because it suggests that, despite the differences in power between member countries, the EU does not function as a system dominated by a single country. It indicates that the European project, in theory, remains a union of equals, even though some countries like Germany and France naturally have more influence than others.
What research methods did you use?
I have to admit, my research methods were a bit of a mess at the beginning! I came into the PhD somewhat unprepared in terms of methodology and had to learn on the job.
Eventually, I realised I needed to conduct interviews with people who were "in the room" during key decision-making moments. I did 24 interviews with high-level individuals from German and other governments and the EU. I also used ‘triangulation,’ comparing what interviewees said with academic writings and EU documents to get as close as possible to the truth. My overall methodology was process tracing, which involves analyzing the sequence from a cause (Germany's actions) to an outcome (the decisions made during the Eurozone crisis) to determine if Germany had a determining influence in each case.
How do you feel about completing your PhD, and what are your plans for the future?
Honestly, the first feeling is relief. I'm so glad that I managed to finish it. I think this feeling is probably shared by everyone who completes a PhD — it’s a huge sense of accomplishment. It's the greatest thing I've ever done in my career so far. I went through moments, especially in the first two years, when I wasn't sure if I would ever finish. So yes, I feel relieved and proud.
As for the future, I enjoy teaching, and I was a teacher during my PhD. I'm not very attracted to the process of publishing articles and the peer-review system. I am considering turning parts of my thesis into a more political book where I can also write about what has happened in the EU since the crisis, as my research only covered up to 2016. I’ve already published an academic article based on one of my chapters, and I might do more of that.
Do you have anyone you would like to thank or dedicate your PhD to?
I would like to thank my parents. I have a very close relationship with them, and they have reserves of patience that I’m not sure I would have for my own children! This process was long and challenging, and it coincided with the COVID years, which made things even harder. I moved from lockdown in London back to Portugal, where I wrote most of my thesis. Being close to my family was a safe space for me. So, I definitely have to thank them for their enormous patience and support throughout this journey.