Oct 23, 2018

4:00 pm – 5:30

MSU International Center, room 303

427 N Shaw Ln, East Lansing

Democracy in Crisis Flyer (PDF).

Brazil's 2018 presidential election has been marked by a tense climate of political polarization, violence, and intolerance. Direct attacks on social justice activists and organizations have become normalized. The conviction and imprisonment of the leading left-leaning candidate has opened the possibility of a successful presidential run by far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro, who has openly attacked black, LGBTQ, women's and indigenous communities and the press.

What is the impact of populist, conservative, and white nationalist rhetorics on vulnerable communities? How are those communities and their allies responding? What is the role of a free press in this scenario? Brazil expert Rachel Mourao discusses the current state of democracy, political discourse, and polarization in Brazil and draws comparisons to contemporary U.S. and world politics.