Militant democracy in Brazil: Unraveling militant democracy's strategies in countering anti-democratic movements

• Grant number: 24/13499-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: November 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Political Science - State and Government
• Principal Investigator: Paolo Ricci
• Grantee: Gabriel Pinho Brochado
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

How and when do threatened democracies survive? The global rise of anti-democratic leaders and political parties over the past decade underscores the importance of understanding democratic erosion, especially when elections become a mechanism to undermine democracy itself. This research project takes an innovative approach by investigating how and when democratic actors respond to non-violent threats from leaders and political parties who, although operating within the democratic framework, use ambiguous discourse and legal means to weaken democracy. The study focuses on the responses of institutions in Brazil, including the Judiciary and Congress, and evaluates the strategies and measures adopted to address these challenges. Using a qualitative approach, including document analysis and process-tracing, the research explores the mechanisms of democratic protection in Brazil and critical aspects of militant democracy, such as legitimacy, timing of decision-making, and strategies to neutralize these threats, offering a significant contribution to the literature.