Filipe Teles is a political scientist in the Department of Social, Political and Territorial Sciences at the University of Aveiro, Portugal, where he teaches courses in the fields of Public Policy and Political Science. Presently, he holds the position Prorector for Regional Development and Urban Policies.

He holds a PhD and Habilitation in Political Science and is a member of the Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policy (GOVCOPP), where he has developed research work on governance and local government, territorial reforms, political leadership and innovation. Filipe Teles participates in several national and international projects and is the author and co-author of several books and articles in international journals of reference.

He has worked in and acoss different sectors. As an expert/consultant he has worked with the European Economic and Social Committee (EU Belgium), the Council of Europe (Strastbourg, France), the Joint Research Centre (European Commission), the European Environmental Agency (Copenhagen, Denmark), the European Securities and Markets Authority (Paris, France), among others. Collaborated with the Swedish Cooperation as a Consultant on Intermunicipal Cooperation in Colombia (2018-2020), and, currently, with the GFF-World Bank as an International Consultant on Integrated Governance, and with OECD on Intermunicipal Cooperation.

In the context of his teaching and research activities he has lectured in several universities and countries:  University of Warsaw (Poland), CEU Budapest (Hungary), University of Potsdam (Germany), ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences (Switzerland), Universidad Nacional de San Martin - Buenos Aires (Argentina), Bogota (Colombia), UNTL - Dili (East Timor), Institute of Advanced Studies - Koszeg (Hungary), Sofia (Bulgaria), University College Cork (Ireland), Estonia, Santiago (Chile), Cape Verde, Guatemala, Nigeria, Kenya, among others.

Selected bibliography (yearly):

2025

• Teles, F., da Cruz, N. (2025), Barómetro do Poder Local (relatório), Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos

• Ponte, T., Fernandes, ML, Teles, F. & Polido, A. (2025), Municipal administration and citizens linkages in strategic environmental assessment: exploring agency features in participatory decision-making processes of municipal master plans, Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning, DOI:10.1080/1523908X.2025.2552373

• Matos,MV,  Fidélis, T.,  Sousa, MC,   Riazi, F., Miranda,AC,  Teles, F. (2025) Institutional challenges in water reuse and circularity: insights from co-creation processes in Southern Europe and Middle East. Water Policy, 27 (4): 429–446. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2025.165

• Ponte, T., Teles, F., & Polido, A. (2025). Identifying and exploring ‘agency features’ in decision-making processes aimed at urban sustainability transformation. Urban Research & Practice, 1–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/17535069.2025.2483242

• F Riazi, T Fidélis, F Teles (2025), "Exploring the role of inter-municipal cooperation for promoting circular economy: insights from a Southern European country", Water Policy 27(2): 161-181

2024

• Fernandes, ML, Moreno Pires, S., Ramos, TB, Rodigues, C, Teles, F. & Polido, A (2024), Actors in the spotlight: scrutinising how actors affect strategic environmental assessment towards sustainability in municipal master plans, Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning, DOI:10.1080/1523908X.2024.2392680

• Teles, F (2024). Decentralization and Governance in Portugal. In: Lois-González, R.C., Rio Fernandes, J.A. (eds) Urban Change in the Iberian Peninsula. The Urban Book Series. Springer, Cham. Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-59679-7_24

• Kurian, M., P. Swianiewicz and F. Teles (2024), "Inter-municipal co-operation in the Western Balkans", SIGMA Papers, No. 70, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/a78a01e6-en

• Silva, P., Moreno Pires, S., Teles, F., Polido, A., Rodrigues, C. (2024), Pre-conditions and barriers for territorial innovation through Smart Specialization Strategies: the case of the lagging Centro region of Portugal, Urban Research & Practice, 17(1): 1-28 DOI: 10.1080/17535069.2022.2103447

• Chamusca, P., Marques, J.L., Moreno Pires, S., Teles, F. (2024), Territorial Cohesion: discussing the mismatch between conceptual definitions and the understanding of local and intra-regional public decision-makers, Territory, Politics and Governance, 12(5): 649-671 DOI: 10.1080/21622671.2022.2044899

• Rúben Mendes, Teresa Fidélis, Peter Roebling, Filipe Teles & Michael Farrelly (2024): What is spatial planning saying? A conceptual and methodological framework to assess the institutionalization of nature using critical discourse analysis, Critical Discourse Studies, 21(3):274-292 DOI: 10.1080/17405904.2022.2150668

2023

• Teles, F.,  (ed.) (2023), "Handbook on Local and Regional Governance", Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. 

• Silva, P., Mota, L.F., Carneiro, R., Valentim, R., Teles, F. (2023), The inner functioning of local governance networks in centralized countries: a 'brave new world'? Social Sciences 12: 289. https://doi.org/10.3390/ socsci12050289

• Teles, F. (2023), "Local and regional governance. a negotiated arena", in F Teles (ed.) Handbook on Local and Regional Governance", Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. 

• Teles, F. (2023), "Descentralização e Poder Local", in Ferndandes, J., Magalhães, P., CostaPinto, A. (eds.) "O essencial da política portuguesa", Tinta da China: Lisboa

• T Fidélis, MV Matos, MC Sousa, AC Miranda, F Riazi, F Teles, I Capela (2023) “Assessing policy and planning contexts for the transition to water circular economy: Examples from Southern Europe”, in Miltiadis G. Zamparas, Grigorios L. Kyriakopoulos (eds.), “Water Management and Circular Economy”, Elsevier, 113-142, ISBN 9780323952804

• F Riazi, T Fidélis, F Teles (2023), “Fostering the transition to water reuse: The role of institutional arrangements in the European Union circular economy action plans”, in Miltiadis G. Zamparas, Grigorios L. Kyriakopoulos (eds.), “Water Management and Circular Economy”,Elsevier,427-450, ISBN 9780323952804

• Teles, F. (2023), "Descentralização: um ruidoso silêncio e uma silenciosa reforma", in Camerlo, C. et al. (eds.) "Democracia em Portugal 2022", Lisboa: Imprensa de Ciências Sociais

• Pires, SM., Teles, F. (2023), "A new debate on local governance from the lenses of Earth System Science", in F Teles (ed.) Handbook on Local and Regional Governance", Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. 

• Riazi, F., Fidelis, T., Matos, M.V., Sousa, M.C., Teles, F., Roebeling, P. (2023): Institutional arrangements for water reuse: assessing challenges for the transition to water circularity, Water Policy, DOI: 10.2166/wp.2023.155

• Raudla, R., Callanan, M., Houlberg, K., Teles, F. (2023 forthcoming), Municipal finances in unitary systems: the effects of crises on financial autonomy in four European countries. In Johnson, C., Moldogaziev, T., & Ross, J. (Eds.), Research Handbook on City and Municipal Finance. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. 

• Teles, F., Ramos, F., Rodrigues, C., Botelho, A. (eds.) (2023), "Territorial Innovation in Less Developed Regions - Governance, Technologies and Sustainability", Palgrave

• Rodrigues, C., Teles, F. (2023), "Community-led Innovation: facts, rhetric, and policy challenges" in Teles, F., Ramos, F., Rodrigues, C., Botelho, A. (eds.) "Territorial Innovation in Less Developed Regions - Governance, Technologies and Sustainability", Palgrave

• Silva, P., Pires, SM, Polido, A., Rodrigues, C., Teles, F.  (2023), "Towards an Integrated Conceptual Framework for territorial innovation in less developed regions: the sustainable regions' approach" in Teles, F., Ramos, F., Rodrigues, C., Botelho, A. (eds.) "Territorial Innovation in Less Developed Regions - Governance, Technologies and Sustainability", Palgrave

• Callanan, M., Houlberg, K., Raudla, R., Teles, F. (2023), “Top-Down” Local Government Mergers: Political and Institutional Factors Facilitating Radical Amalgamation Reforms, Journal of Urban Affairs

2022

• Egner, B., Heinelt, H., Lysek, J., Silva, P. and Teles, F. (eds.) (2022), "Perspectives on local governance across Europe: insights on local state-society relations", Palgrave

• Teles, F. (2022), "Devil in details: Beyond deceptive comparisons of European local governments”, in Egner, B., Heinelt, H., Lysek, J., Silva, P. and Teles, F. (eds.), Perspectives on local governance across Europe: insights on local state-society relations, Palgrave

• Silva, P., Mota, L., Teles, F. (2022), “The unbearable lightness of coherence within local governance arrangements”, Egner, B., Heinelt, H., Lysek, J., Silva, P. and Teles, F. (eds.), Perspectives on local governance across Europe: insights on local state-society relations, Palgrave

• Melro, A., Teles, F., Oliveira, L. (2022), Modernization as an enhancer of access to Justice and of proximity between key actors, Revista de Estudos Constitucionais, Hermenêutica e Teoria do Direito (RECHTD) 14(1):51-70, doi: 10.4013/rechtd.2022.141.04 

• Teles, F. (2022), "Decentralization and Local Politics", in Ferndandes, J., Magalhães, P., CostaPinto, A. (eds.) "The Oxford Handbook of Portuguese Politics", OUP

• Riazi, F., Fidelis, T., Teles, F. (2022), Governance arrangements for water reuse: assessing emerging trends for inter-municipal cooperation through a literature review, Water, 14, 2789

• Melro, A., Teles, F., Oliveira, L. (2022), Relevant Stages, Actors and Instruments in the Portuguese Judicial System Modernization Process. Journal of Public Policy and Administration. 6(1): 33-48 doi: 10.11648/j.jppa.20220601.16

• Teles, F. (2022), "Mind the gap: the hiddden challenges of intra-state governments in Portugal", in Copus, C., Kerley, R., Jones, A. (eds.) "A Modern Guide to Local and Regional Politics", Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. 

2021 

• Teles, F. (2021). Descentralização e podel local em Portugal, Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos

• Lackowska, M., Szmigiel-Rawska, K., Teles, F. (eds.) (2021), "Local Government in Europe - New perspectives and Democratic Challenges", Bristol: Bristol University Press [link] 

• Teles, F., Gendzwil, A.,  Stanus, C.,  Heinelt, H. (eds.) (2021), “Close Ties in European Local Governance - Linking Local State and Society”, Basingstoke: Palgrave [link]

• Tavares, A.F., Moreno Pires, S., Teles, F. (2021), Voice, Responsiveness and Alternative Policy Venues: An Analysis of Citizen Complaints against the Local Government to the National Ombudsman. Public Administration, https://doi.org/10.1111/padm.12787 

• Camões, PJ, Tavares, A., Teles, F.  (2021), Assessing the intensity of cooperation: a study of joint delegation of municipal functions to inter-municipal associatons. Local Government Studies, 47:4, 593-615, DOI: 10.1080/03003930.2020.1857245

• Pedro Silva, Sara Moreno Pires & Filipe Teles (2021): Explanatory models of regional innovation performance in Europe: policy implications for regions, Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research, DOI: 10.1080/13511610.2021.1909462

• Fidélis, T., Cardoso, AS, Riazi, F, Miranda, AC, Abrantes, J, Teles, F.,  Roebeling, PC (2021), Policy narratives of circular economy in the EU – Assessing the embeddedness of water and land in national action plans. Journal of Cleaner Production (288), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125685.

• Lackowska, M., Szmigiel-Rawska, K., Teles, F. (2021), "Perspectives on European Local Government: Putting Local Democracy First!", in M. Lackowska, K. Szmigiel-Rawska, Teles, F. (eds.) "Local Government in Europe - New perspectives and Democratic Challenges", Bristol: Bristol University Press

• Teles, F., Romeiro, P. and Pires, S.M. (2021), Thirty Years of Urban Policy in Portugal, in K. Zimmerman and V. Fedeli (eds.), "A Modern Guide to National Urban Policies in Europe", EdwardElgar

• Teles, F. (2021), Diversity in local state-society relations: A typology to grasp differences in institutional networks, in Teles, F., Gendzwil, A., Stanus, C.,  Heinelt, H. (eds), “Close Ties in European Local Governance - Linking Local State and Society”, Basingstoke: Palgrave 

• Teles, F., Gendzwil, A., Stanus, C., Heinelt, H. (2021), Interactions of societal actors and local government in institutionalized governance arrangements,in Teles, F., Gendzwil, A., Stanus, C.,  Heinelt, H. (eds.), “Close Ties in European Local Governance - Linking Local State and Society”, Basingstoke: Palgrave

• Heinelt, H., Teles, F., Gendzwil, A., Stanus, C.(2021), Local state-society relations in European countries: Main findings, in Teles, F., Gendzwil, A.,  Stanus, C.,  Heinelt, H. (eds.), “Close Ties in European Local Governance - Linking Local State and Society”, Basingstoke: Palgrave

• Mota, L., Silva, P., Teles, F. (2021), Local state-society relations in Portugal, in Teles, F., Gendzwil, A., Stanus, C.,  Heinelt, H. (eds.), “Close Ties in European Local Governance - Linking Local State and Society”, Basingstoke: Palgrave

2020 

• Teles, F. (2020), Public Administration in Portugal, in Geert Bouckaert and Werner Jann (eds), “European Perspectives for Public Administration: the Way Forward”, Leuven University Press: Leuven (pp 439-454)

• Rio Fernandes, J. A., Teles, F., Chamusca, P., & Seixas, J. (2020). The power of the cities and the power in the cities: a multiscale perspective from Portugal. Boletín De La Asociación De Geógrafos Españoles, (87). https://doi.org/10.21138/bage.2978

• A. Galli, S.M. Pires, K. Iha, A.A. Alves, D. Lin, M.S. Mancini, F. Teles (2020), Sustainable food transition in Portugal: Assessing the Footprint of dietary choices and gaps in national and local food policies, Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 749

• Mendes, R., Fidélis, T., Roebeling, P., Teles, F. (2020), The institutionalization of nature-based solutions – a discourse analysis of emergent literature, Resources, 9(1), 6; doi:10.3390/resources9010006

2019 

• Pires, S., Polido, A, Teles, F., Silva, P., Rodrigues, C. (2019) Territorial Innovation Models in Less Developed Regions in Europe: the Quest for a New Research Agenda?, European Planning Studies DOI: 10.1080/09654313.2019.1697211 

• Polido, A.; Moreno Pires, S.; Rodrigues, C.; Teles, F. (2019) “Sustainable development discourse in Smart Specialization Strategies”, Journal of Cleaner Production, 240

• Fidelis, T.; Teles, F.; Roebeling, P.; Riazi, F. (2019), Governance fo Sustainability of estuarine areas - assessing alternative models using the case of Ria de Aveiro, Portugal, Water, 11, 846; doi:10.3390/w11040846

• Swianiewicz, P.; Teles, F. (2019), The Institutionalization of Inter-municipal arrangements in Europe: Findings from the Unusual Suspects, Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences, No. 57 E pp. 119-136

• Ramos, D, Costa, C. and Teles, F. (2019) Tourism in low density areas: a review of Coastal and rural development practices, in V. Ratten, V. Braga, J. Alvarez-Garcia and M.C. Rio-Rama (eds.) "Tourism Innovation: Tecchonoly, sustainability and Creativity", Routledge 

2018 

• Tavares, A; de Sousa, L.; Macedo, A.; Fernandes, D.; Teles, F.; Mota, L.; Cruz, N.; Moreno Pires, S. (2018), A Qualidade da Governação Local em Portugal, Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos [link] 

• Hlepas, N.; Kersting, N.; Kuhlman, S.; Swianiewicz, P.; Teles, F. (2018). "Sub-municipal Governance in Europe: Decentralization Beyond the Municipal Tier", Basingstoke: Palgrave [link]

• Teles, F.; Swianiewicz, P. (eds.) (2018), "Inter-municipal Cooperation in Europe: Institutions and Governance", Palgrave. [link]

• Teles, F. (2018), Animal Farm: The New Political Leaders in Mass Democracies, in Tony Middlebrooks (ed.) Symposium, Journal of Leadership Studies, 12(4): 69-70

• Swianiewicz, P.; Teles, F. (2018), Inter-municipal cooperation in Europe. Introduction to the Symposium (guest editors), International Review of Administrative Sciences, Vol. 84 (4):613-618

• Silva, P.; Teles, F.; Ferreira, J. (2018), Inter-municipal cooperation: the quest for governance capacity?”, International Review of Administrative Sciences, Vol. 84 (4): 619-638

• Ramos, D., Costa, C, Teles, F (2018) "Competitiveness factors in rural areas adjacent to coastal zones", Revista Turismo & Desenvolvimento, 30: 9-20

• Tavares, A.; Teles, F. (2018), Deeply rooted but still striving for a role: the Portuguese Freguesias under reform, in Hlepas, N., Kersting, N., Kuhlman, S, Swianiewicz, P. and Teles, F. (Eds.), Sub-municipal Governance in Europe: In search of expressive and responsive communities?

• Hlepas, N.; Kersting, N.; Kuhlmann, S.; Swianiewicz, P.; Teles, F. (2018) Introduction: Decentralization Beyond the Municipal Tier, in Hlepas, N., Kersting, N., Kuhlman, S, Swianiewicz, P. and Teles, F. (Eds.), Sub-municipal Governance in Europe: Decentralization Beyond the Municipal Tier, Palgrave

• Silva, P.; Teles, F. (2018) The biggest loser? Local Public Services under austerity measures in Portugal, in Lippi, A. & Tsekos, T. (eds.), Local Public Services in Times of Austerity across Mediterranean Europe, Palgrave

• Teles, F.; Swianiewicz, P. (2018), Motives for Revisiting Inter-municipal Cooperation, in Teles, F. and Swianiewicz, P. (eds.) (2018), Intermunicipal cooperation in Europe: Institutions and Governance, Palgrave

• Swianiewicz, P.; Teles, F. (2018), Inter-municipal Cooperation Diversity, Evolution and Future research Agenda, in Teles, F. and Swianiewicz, P. (eds.) (2018), Intermunicipal cooperation in Europe: Institutions and Governance, Palgrave

2017 

• Steen, T.; Teles, F.; Torsteinsen,H. (2017), "Improving Local Service Delivery: Increasing Performance Through Reforms", in Schwab, C., Bouckaert, G. & Kuhlmann, S. (eds.), The Future of Local Government in Europe: Lessons from Research and Practice in 31 Countries, Berlin:Nomos/Edition Sigma

  • [édition en français] Steen, T.; Teles, F.; Torsteinsen,H. (2018), "Améliorer la prestation des services locaux : des réformes pour accroître la performance", en Schwab, C., Bouckaert, G. et Kuhlmann, S. (eds.), L’Avenir des Administrations Locales en Europe, PAris: Institut de la gestion publique et du développement économique

• Rodrigues, C.; Teles, F (2017), The fourth helix in Smart Specialization Strategies - the gap between discourse and practice, in Carayannis and Monteiro (eds.) The Quadruple Innovation Helix Nexus: A Smart Growth Model, Quantitative Empirical Validation and Operationalization for OECD Countries, Springer / Palgrave.

2016 

• Teles, F. (2016). Local governance and Inter-municipal Cooperation. Palgrave. [link]

• Silva, P. Rosa Pires, A., Teles, F (2016) “Paving the (hard) way for regional partnerships: evidences from Portugal”, Regional and Federal Studies 26(4): 449-474

• Hlepas, N, Kettunen, P, Kutsar, D., MacCarthaigh, M., Navarro, C, Richter, P, Teles, F (2016) “Child day-care in transition: scaling and re-scaling in comparative perspective”, in Geert Bouckaert and Sabine Kuhlmann (eds.) “Local Public Sector Reforms in Times of Crisis: National Trajectories and International Comparisons”, Palgrave.

• Teles, F., Kettunnen, P. (2016), “ Why Municipal Cooperation Matters: Diversity and research agendas”, in Ugur Sadioglu and Kadir Dede (eds.), “ Theoretical Foundations and Discussions on the Reformation Process in Local Governments”, IGI Global, Hershey PA, pp:140-152.

• Teles, F. (2016), “Gobierno Local en Portugal: Identidad y Transición”, in José Manuel Ruano y Camilo Vial (eds.) Gobiernos Locales en Iberoamérica, CLAD.

2015 

• Teles, F. (2015) “Órgãos autárquicos: limitações e alternativas”, in Sousa, L., Cruz, N., Tavares, A. e Jorge, S. (eds.) “A reforma do poder local em debate”, ICS: Lisboa, pp:123-128.

• Teles, F. (2015), Ambiguity is the leader’s new double edged sword, in Tony Middlebrooks (ed.) Symposium: Provoking Perspectives of Creativity and Innovation in Leadership, Journal of Leadership Studies, Volume 9(3): 55-56

• Teles, F. (2015), Local Political Leaders and Context Awareness: identifying perceptions of autonomy and efficacy, Space and Polity 19(2): 170-190

• Teles, F. (2015), The distinctiveness of Democratic Political Leadership, Political Studies Review, 13 (1): 22-36 doi: 10.1111/1478-9302.12029 (pub online 11 oct 2013)

2014 

• Teles, F. (2014), Facilitative mayors in complex environments: why political will matters, Local Government Studies, 40(5): 809-829 DOI:10.1080/03003930.2013.801835

• Teles, F. (2014), Local Government and the Bailout: reform singularities in Portugal, European Urban and Regional Studies, 23(3): 455-467 DOI: 10.1177/0969776413517249 

2013 

• Teles, F. (2013), Local Co-Governance: An exploratory study on third sector’s artificial autonomy, Croatian and Comparative Public Administration, Vol.13(3): 783-802

2012 

• Teles, F. (2012), Effective Local Government Arrangements, Identity and Social Capital: a Framework for institutional design and administrative reform, Theoretical and Empirical Researches in Urban Management, Vol.7(4): 20-34

• Teles, F. (2012), Beyond Paternalism towards social capital: local governance reform in Portugal, International Journal of Public Administration, 35:13, 864-872

• Teles, F. (2012), Political leaders: the paradox of freedom and democracy, Revista Enfoques, Ciência Política y Administración Pública (Chile), Vol X, n.16, pp. 112–131   

• Ramos, A.M.; Teles, F. (2012), Memória das Políticas Educativas em Timor-Leste: a Consolidação de um Sistema, Ed. Universidade de Aveiro

2009

• Teles, F.; Pinto, L.C. (2009), Ser capaz de adquirir competências, Programa Escolhas, ACIDI: Lisboa

2008

• Teles, F. (2008), “Autarquias no Fio da Navalha: Governação Local e as Estratégias de Reforço do Capital Social”, in J.M. Moreira, C. Jalali e A.A. Alves (Eds.), Estado, Sociedade Civil e Administração Pública: para um novo paradigma do serviço público, Almedina: Coimbra