Leonel Itaussu Almeida de Melo (1945-2013) was born in Icém, São Paulo, Brazil, and was of Lebanese descent. At a young age, he moved to the capital to study and joined the militant National Liberation Action (ALN). He was arrested by the military regime (1964-1984) and tortured in the DOI-CODI (Brazilian Army), where he was imprisoned for approximately a year.
After being released, he completed his law studies at the University of São Paulo (USP), Largo de São Francisco Law School, a profession he had never practiced. He also graduated from the same university in the Social Sciences. He later obtained a master’s degree in Political Sociology and a doctorate in Political Science as well as a post-doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley. Professor Itaussú was a distinguished member of CENEGRI (2012).
As a lecturer in the Department of Political Science at FFLCH/USP, he reached the position of full professor after a rigorous selection process. He was author of the classics of Brazilian geopolitics: Quem tem medo da geopolítica? and A geopolítica do Brasil e a Bacia do Prata.