This study, designed jointly by the Núcleo de Pesquisa sobre Participação, Movimentos Sociais e Ação Coletiva (NEPAC) at Unicamp and Professor Lívia De Tommasi (UFABC), aims to explore and refresh the theoretical debate and address the methodological challenges of studying civil society’s heterogeneity and its interactions with the state and the market. In the 1970s and 1980s, debates on civil society primarily centered on the role of social movements in democracy. Today, however, the proliferation and diversity of forms of associativism across various territories calls for new perspectives. This landscape includes churches from various religious and political backgrounds; far-right sectors operating in different associations; foundations, business institutes, and impact enterprises; traditional and contemporary philanthropic sectors; collectives organizing via social media; and traditional social movements and NGOs, among others. These groups organize the territories, mobilize public and private resources, engage in political participation, and influence elections, operating across various areas of rights and philanthropy. Moreover, the Brazilian state and the market, through “partnerships” with organizations at all levels of the federation, have not only absorbed values and projects from these institutions but have also influenced their activities in return. Through systematic readings and idea exchange on the content and methodologies of individual research projects, we aim to collectively examine how civil associativism has evolved and transformed society.

Participants (Center)

NEPAC/UNICAMP: Ana Cláudia Chaves Teixeira, Adriana Cattai Pismel.