Join us for a conference marking the 40th anniversary of Brazil’s return to democracy after 21 years of military-civilian dictatorship. We will explore the convergence of political, social, and economic transitions that defined this period, situating it within the broader regional history of authoritarianism in Latin America. The conference will examine how pro-democracy movements advocating for racial justice, human rights, and government accountability emerged at the municipal level, often preceding their influence on national politics. We aim to reevaluate how law functioned both as an instrument of state violence and as a tool leveraged by marginalized groups to advocate for their basic needs, thereby expanding the meaning of citizenship. The event will also reflect on key historiographical debates that illuminate the complex relationship between law, democracy, and violence in Latin America. Marking 40 years since Brazil’s return to democracy offers a critical opportunity to examine the very ideas of “transition” and “democratization.” Using Brazil as a focal point, we will also explore the intertwined, recent histories of nations emerging from dictatorships across the Americas in the context of current global political challenges.

Speakers

• Amy Chazkel, Columbia University
• Barbara Weinstein, New York University
• Claudio Lomnitz, Columbia University
• Daniela Traldi, Columbia University
• Gianpaolo Baiocchi, New York University
• Jacob Blanc, McGill University
• James N. Green, Brown University (Emeritus)
• Juan Ignacio Arboleda, University of Pennsylvania
• Keisha-Kahn Perry, University of Pennsylvania
• Kendall Thomas, Columbia University
• Larissa Rosa Correa, PUC-Rio and Harvard University
• Mariana Cavalcanti, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro and Columbia University
• Martha S. Jones, Johns Hopkins University
• Melissa Teixeira, University of Pennsylvania
• Oscar Vilhena Vieira, Fundação Getulio Vargas
  

Please email disability@columbia.edu to request disability accommodations. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.

Please click here to see the full program and to register for this event. Registration is required.