The Election of Jair Bolsonaro: Why Did This Happen?

The Brazil Institute is proud to present this panel discussion on the election of Jair Bolsonaro. Join us to hear a conversation between Emir Sader, one of Brazil’s most eminent sociologists, and Alfredo Saad Filho, Professor of International Development at King’s College London, with visiting economist Ursula Dias Peres serving as the panel chair and moderator.

*Please register for this event using the provided link

The Panel:

In recent years, we have seen the rise of far-right populism and authoritarianism worldwide. Among notorious proponents of these doctrines are Trump in the USA, Boris Johnson in the UK, Orban in Hungary, Morawiecki in Poland, as well as Duterte in the Philippines, Erdogan in Turkey and Modi in India.

On the back of an easy appeal to ‘traditional family values’, nationalism, ‘law and order’ and fundamental religiousness of whatever creed, this has led to an increase in violence against those who are different, immigrants, minorities and anyone who does not conform, as well as a growing disregard for human rights.

Hand in hand with the rise of the far-right comes economic neoliberalism, which is responsible for the breakdown of social welfare systems and the erosion political and social rights.

Brazil went from a left-leaning government that was successful in addressing some of the country’s social woes to electing the far-right government of Jair Bolsonaro. Why did this happen?

Speakers:

Emir Sader is emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. He was President of the Latin American Association of Sociology (Alas) and Executive Secretary of the Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO). He is currently the co-ordinator of the Public Policy Laboratory at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ).

Alfredo Saad Filho is Professor of International Development and affiliate at King’s College London. Previously, he was Professor of Political Economy at SOAS University of London, and Senior Economic Affairs Officer at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Ursula Dias Peres is an associate researcher in the Centre for Urban Studies at the University of São Paulo is now a visiting fellow at the Brazil Institute at King's College London. She earned a Ph.D. in Economics from the Fundação Getúlio Vargas – SP (FGV-SP) and is Professor and Researcher at the Master's and Undergraduate Programs in Management of Public Policy at the School of Arts, Sciences, and Humanities of the University of São Paulo (EACH, USP)

Details to note:

Wednesday, 16th October 2019

King’s Building K6.29 (Anatomy Lecture Theatre)

King’s College London, Strand WC2R 2LS

Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm