The study seeks to understand how community associations promote political education practices that contribute to strengthening democracy in Global South contexts. In this sense, the research aims to answer two central questions: 1. What roles do community-based associations in Brazil and Cape Verde play in political education for democracy at the local level? 2. What are the specific processes that contribute to the promotion of democratic pedagogies within these associations? The general objective is to understand the political education for democracy developed by associations, with emphasis on the democratic pedagogies underlying their organizational dynamics. As specific objectives, I seek to: (1) trace and identify evidence of the consolidation of community associativism in Brazil and Cape Verde; (2) analyze the historical trajectory of these associations, considering mobilization, rules, repertoires, and narratives over time; and (3) explain organizational changes in the pedagogical processes aimed at promoting democracy at the local level. The hypotheses guiding the research are: H1 – community-based associations contribute to democratic deepening by developing democratic pedagogies integrated into their dynamics; H2 – the political engagement promoted by associations strengthens participation in both community and institutional spaces, expanding grassroots democratic practices.

Participants (Center)

LAPID/UFAL: Rachel Carvalho, Leonardo Leal

The main objective of this project is to analyze the participation of women, as candidates, in the Brazilian electoral process from the redemocratization period to the 2024 election. Given the historical characteristics of women’s participation in Brazil and the body of studies already developed at LEPP/UFS on the political groupings of Sergipe and their transformations in recent years, as well as the available evidence and research since redemocratization, the project seeks to investigate the relationships between women’s entry and permanence in politics and the processes of recomposition of alliance systems among the main political groupings and leaders in Sergipe. The aim, therefore, is to demonstrate that the asymmetries in the construction of candidacies, in access to resources for electoral competition, and in electoral success rates—as well as the compliance of party lists, campaign financing, and practices with current legislation—are closely linked to the dynamics of structuring and reconfiguring family-based politics in Sergipe.

Participants (Center)

LEPP/UFS: Coordenação: Fernanda Rios Petrarca, Wilson José Ferreira de Oliveira. Participantes: Adrielma Silveira Fortuna dos Santos, Pâmella Synthia Santana Santos, Andressa Brito de Jesus, Ana Lara Divina Barbosa Reyes, Annie Letícia Andrade Mendes Conceição, Evelyn Letícia Andrade Santos, Isa Lorena de Jesus Souza Santos, Nicoline Oliveira Leão, Vanessa Silva da Anunciação, Maria Rebeca Silva Santana, Everton da Costa dos Santos, Adriele Vitórica Silveira Santos, Nicolle Stefhny Viana da Silva

The project involves three areas of work, analytically connected by a critique of the tendency to characterize civil society politics as pre-political or as possessing distinctive and morally superior characteristics compared to those that drive traditional politics. In contrast, the project proposes a systematic study of politics within civil society, avoiding characterizations that were deduced a priori from theory. The first area focuses on participatory governance structures, aiming to explore the role of civil organizations that do not hold seats on policy councils but have a stake in policies that may be affected by councils’ decisions. The second area focuses on the decisions made within policy councils. Finally, the third area examines how the heterogeneity of civil society operates from a demographic or population perspective, characterizing the organizational ecologies involved.

Participants (Center)

NDAC/Cebrap: Adrian Gurza Lavalle, Alexandre Fontenelle-Weber, Alina da Silva Ribeiro, Ana Claudia Cortez, Beatriz Rodrigues Sanchez, Carla de Paiva Bezerra, Gabriela de Brelaz, Leonardo Ângelo de Araújo Andrade, Maira Rodrigues, Marco Antonio de Paula Filho, Maria do Carmo Albuquerque, Matheus Del'Arco Pinzan, Pedro Crepaldi Carlessi, Rodrigo Martins da Silva, Victoria Lustosa Braga, Wanderson Felício de Souza.

The literature on the relationships between religion and social movements, militant engagement, and associativism – both in Brazil and internationally – has identified and analyzed various mechanisms through which religious organizations and agents influence political organization and mobilization processes. These important contributions in the literature generally view religious agency in popular organization and mobilization processes as a source of “resources” that support these processes. Without rejecting or downplaying the value of these contributions, this project seeks to analyze how two central dimensions of political organization and mobilization – identity processes and the moral foundations of action – are (re)configured in contexts where the sacred becomes politicized, and politics becomes sacralized.

Participants (Center)

GPACE/UFRGS: Clarananda da Silva Barreira, Elizabeth Cristiane Mendonça Azevedo, Felipe da Luz Colomé.

The Núcleo de Extensão em Pesquisa Social Aplicada (Center for Applied Social Research Extension) aims to create a space for dialogue between social organizations and researchers, fostering knowledge production processes that address social needs while offering professional training through active involvement in applied social research projects.

Participants (Center)

GPACE/UFRGS: Eduarda Paz Trindade, Elizabeth Cristiane Mendonça Azevedo, Flavia Maoli Magalhães de Oliveira, Gerson de Lima Oliveira, Ivone dos Passos Maio, Luan Homem Belomo, Marcelo Kunrath Silva.

The ISP Observatory, part of INCT Participa, is a platform designed to be developed, maintained, and continuously updated through a collaborative network. It seeks to collect and share information, data, and insights on private social investment and institutionalized philanthropy in Brazil. This initiative connects scientific, academic, and applied research on the sector with various stakeholders, working to promote a more just and equitable society by using knowledge to guide private resources toward the public good.

Participants (Center)

GPACE/UFRGS: Amanda Kovalczuk, Carla Michele Rech, Flavia Maoli Magalhães de Oliveira, Gerson de Lima Oliveira, Ivone dos Passos Maio, Marcelo Kunrath Silva, Róbson Rocha, Cristiano Nicola Ferreira, Lívia Lima, Stephani Santos

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.

This project seeks to explore how politics is conducted in the digital world. Through systematic readings and exchanges on the content and methodologies of individual research projects, we aim to collectively address how democracy has transformed in the digital age. Without embracing technological determinism, we focus on understanding how complex changes in information and communication systems have affected the ongoing processes of democratization and de-democratization. We examine the impact of internet use, particularly social media, on the different ways politics is conducted during election periods: within political parties, in government, in legislative mandates held by professional politicians, across state sectors in policy formulation and implementation, in law enforcement, in digital activism, in the blend of online and street-based collective actions, in political culture, and in the participation of everyday citizens in political life. We also want to understand the agency of these political actors and how they leverage information technology to advance their goals and interests.

Participants (Center)

NEPAC/UNICAMP: Ana Cláudia Chaves Teixeira, Fernanda Polidoro Paiva, Geraldo Homero, Vinícius Sturari e Mariana Benate

This study seeks to analyze the political participation of Black university students in Brazil from 1993 to 2019. The first National Seminar of Black University Students (SENUN) was held in 1993, bringing together students to discuss the role of Black individuals in higher education. Since then, other significant channels for Black student political participation have emerged, such as the National Meetings of Black Students and Quota Beneficiaries of the National Union of Students (ENUNE) in 2007, and the National Meeting of Black Students and Student Collectives (EECUN) in 2016. This process of student political organization coincided with the expansion of affirmative action in higher education nationwide; however, there are notable differences between these movements, particularly in their relationships with political parties. The study will analyze this trajectory using theories on racial relations and social movements.

Participants (Center)

NEPAC/UNICAMP: Rodger Richer de Santana Rocha

This study aims to map and characterize the patterns of ethnic-territorial associativism in the Baixo Amazonas region. We believe that understanding the repertoires of associativism rooted in ethnicity and territory – along with their social bases and claims – adds valuable depth to the literature on participation and social movements. By emphasizing territorial conflicts, territorialities, and ethnicities as essential mobilizing resources, this approach addresses gaps often present in certain areas of academic work in this field. The final outputs from the research group will highlight the collective, solidarity-driven, and resistance-oriented ways of life of Amazonian peoples as a means of opposing economic policies that erode rights, degrade the environment, and threaten their traditional territories.

Participants (Center)

UFAM: Sandra Damasceno da Rocha, Sandra Helena da Silva, Juliana da Silva Ferreira, Luciana Paula Benetti.