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Tagged: Brazil

Protestors in yellow shirts photographed through a shattered window.

Judicial Power and Democratic Erosion: The Procedural–Substantive Dilemma of Democracy in the Brazilian Supreme Court

By Julia Wand-del-Rey Cani. This post contributes to understanding how Brazil’s Supreme Court (STF) has comprehended its democratic role, particularly during the Bolsonaro era, and argues that there is a tension between substantive democratic defense and procedural consistency. More broadly, it distinguishes between constitutional courts balancing democratic substance and democratic procedure, with the aim of answering the following question: to what extent should judicial self-regulation be constrained during periods of democratic erosion?

Two men fighting, wearing jiu-jitsu gear.

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu as a Marker of Whiteness and Anti-Blackness. Embodying Inclusive Conservative Conviviality in Rio de Janeiro

By Raphael Schapira. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) practitioners often perceive their sport as a discrimination-free space, stating: “On the mats, everyone is equal”. However, this belief in equality can sometimes obscure the fact that BJJ has been predominantly associated with Whiteness. This paper explores how the Gracie and Fadda lineages – crucial for the sport’s development – have distinctively constructed BJJ as a White sport, each for their own purposes. Schapira argues that Whiteness and anti-Blackness are constitutive elements linking the appeal of Bolsonaro and neoconservativism with communities typically expected to instead support other political forces more interested in progressive socio-political change.