Professor Pedro Paulo Funari lectures at the international seminar held by the Institute for Advanced Studies – IEA, University of São Paulo

He delivered a lecture at the event “High Density Democracies: India and Brazil”

On June 27th, Professor Pedro Paulo Funari, Director of the Center of Advanced Studies - CEAv, participated at the International Seminar held by IEA. Indians historians and researchers from USP and Unicamp participated as well. One of the main subjects approached in the event was the differences between the processes of democracy consolidation in Brazil and China and the similarities between the current scenery of both countries. Professor Funari has drawn up a frame of Democracy in Brazil since its colonization, with the theme “Challenges of Democracy in Brazil from a Historical Perspective”.
Being interviewed, he presented his impressions about that meeting: the exchange of information with Indian researchers, the themes of discussion, and the advantageous contributions to the CEAv.

What were the main subjects of discussion and how do you evaluate that meeting?

The discussions were very productive. On Monday afternoon, Professor Martin Grossman and Aditya Mukherjee laid out the plans of their respective Institute of Advanced Studies (IEA-USP and Institute of Advanced Studies Jawaharlal Nehru-JNU). Professor Grossman exposed a plan of action based on trusteeship, in an innovative approach and inspired in his own course of action, the fine arts, his original area of study.
Professor Mukherjee, renowned historian and IAS-JNU Director, presented his Institute original course of action, created in cooperation and interaction, particularly, with scholars from emergent Southern countries.
On Monday morning, two roundtables were held, each one with a moderator and a discussant. At the first one, Professor Mridual Mukherjee (IAS-JNU) presented the course of contemporary Indian history, emphasizing the Indian National Congress role concerning the process of building a pluralist, laic and modern democracy, in opposition to less successful experiences in others parts of the Indian subcontinent. He stressed the role of respect for the other as the central element for Indian democracy to succeed.
In the second roundtable, Professor Mukherjee pointed out the role of participative democracy in India and the deepening and historical rooting of democracy, autonomous and resulting, also, from the anti-imperialist struggle. Professor Janine Ribeiro (USP) emphasized the role of republic and democracy concepts in Brazil and the recent social advancement. At the closing, there was a very fruitful discussion.

Give us a briefing of your lecture

I have drawn up a frame of democracy in Brazil, from the country historical experience. Since its colonization, the society was characterized by inequality and patrimonialism. Slavery and the concept of vassalage prevailed over the first four centuries. When the citizenship was established, in 1889, the oligarchic regime which would exclude the majority of the population was still maintained. Dictatorships (1937-1945 and 1964-1985) have made democracy emerge in that struggle against the oppression. The 1988 constitution seals the devolution of power to the States, municipalities and local communities, as the subsequent years have being important for the democracy and the rule of the law consolidation. The challenges, however, lay on the incessant and enormous inequalities which constitute one of the main restrictions to democracy.

How would this seminar and the exchange of ideas be appropriated by the CEAv, and what is the importance of that meeting with researchers from diverse Centers of Advanced Studies?

It is clear that India and Brazil democratic experiences, regardless their particularities, shows the relevance of the principle and practice of the power of the people (democracy). The cooperation between the Brazilian centers of advanced studies (IEA-USP and CEAv-Unicamp) as well Indian’s will be important for deepening the critical and creative reflection. For Unicamp, particularly, I emphasize the role played by the advanced studies, in both countries and universities contexts, in an effort for a multilayered, critical reflection according to people’s expectations. '

Confira a matéria do site do IEA da USP sobre o evento