Vice Chancellor of International Relations, University of Salamanca until 2009. BA in  Political Science and Sociology (1976) and PhD in Political Science (1983) by the Universidad Complutense of Madrid, where he has been Lecturer (1985-1993).

Manuel Alcántara Sáez  has also lectured in several Spanish universities: Autónoma of Madrid, Autónoma of Barcelona, Centro de Estudios Políticos y Constitucionales, International of Andalusia, País Vasco, Santiago de Compostela and Valencia; and abroad: Georgetown University (Summer School 1996-2001), University of Belgrano, Catholic University of Quito, University of Costa Rica and Flacso-Mexico.

His research is centred on parliamentary elites, political parties and legislative powers in Latin America, as well as on electoral behaviour and public opinion in  Castilla y León. He has been Researcher at the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) and at the University of Notre Dame.

His main publications include: "Gobernabilidad, crisis y cambio" (Fondo de Cultura Económica, Mexico, 2004); "¿Instituciones o máquinas ideológicas? Origen, programa y organización de los partidos políticos latinoamericanos" (ICPS, Barcelona, 2004); Sistemas políticos de América Latina (Tecnos, 3rd Edition, Madrid, 2003); "Los dueños del poder. Los partidos políticos en Ecuador", 1978-2000 (with Flavia Freidenberg, FLACSO, Quito, 2001); South American Legislatures: Thinking about Economic Integration and Defence Policy (CSIS, Washington, DC, 2000); and "Sistemas políticos de América Latina" (Tecnos, 2nd Edition, Madrid, 1999).

He is member of the Advisory Committee of FRIDE.