Serendipity agency: Lusophone roles in Atlantic geopolitics

Leandro F.J.B.S.; Frogeri R.F.; Li Y. · Journal of Transatlantic Studies (2026) · DOI: 10.1057/s42738-026-00171-z

Resumen

The Atlantic Ocean has long operated as a dynamic space of flows and a locus of geopolitical agency. Yet the geopolitical roles of Atlantic Portuguese-speaking countries (APSC) remain understudied. This study examines how Lusophone states along the Atlantic exercise agency within the region’s evolving geopolitical order. Using a dual methodology—a rubric-based classification of agency types and an Atlantic zoning framework—it maps their spatial and strategic dynamics. Findings show that APSC actors display “serendipity agency,” leveraging contingent opportunities rather than fixed strategies. Conceptualizing this adaptive mode of action advances debates on small- and medium-state behavior in multipolar maritime spaces. © The Editor of the Journal 2026.

Instituciones: Universidad Científica del Sur