Seminars

Dr. Erica Resende will present on academic freedom under siege by populist threats, non-state attacks, and will analyze the case of Bolsonaro's Brazil. Traditionally conceived as a key cornerstone of democratic regimes, academic freedom is under attack everywhere in the world. More recently, attacks from right-wing populist leaders, have eroded the freedom to teach, learn, research and disseminate knowledge everywhere. If historical attacks on academic freedom have predominantly come from state agents in the form of censorship, dismissal from universities, and even arrest, today this pattern has changed. In recent times, instead, attacks have come from non-state agents such as university managers and donors, parents, grassroot groups, as well as digital militia. Looking into the case of Brazil under the Jair Bolsonaro administration (2019-2022), this presentation will highlight how academic harassment in democratic regimes takes the form of online monitoring of professors and teachers, budgetary retaliation, and legislation proposals against ‘leftist’ indoctrination and DEI initiatives. As a result, attacks on academic freedom have become yet another piece in populist cultural wars in polarized societies.