ALFA Educação Law School participates in international event in Paris on authoritarianism in Latin America

Of January 8-14, 2025, the ALFA Education Law School was present at the international event “Figures of Authoritarianism in Latin America: Cross-Cutting Perspectives”, organized by Sciences Po, in Paris, France. The meeting brought together renowned academics and experts to discuss the challenges posed by democratic regression in countries like Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Chile, and propose solutions to strengthen the Rule of Law.

About the event and the Erasmus+ DEMOS project

The event is part of the project Erasmus+ DEMOS, which aims to strengthen democratic institutions in Latin America through collaboration between three European universities and nine Latin American universities, totaling 12 partner institutions. This partnership seeks to develop civic education programs, to create new teaching modules and propose innovative strategies to face the populism and the democratic erosion.

Representatives of the ALFA Education Law School

THE ALFA Education Law School was represented at the event by the following professors:

• Prof. Dr. Guilherme Amorim Campos da Silva (UNIALFA/FADISP)
• Prof. Dr. Rafael Soares da Fonseca (UNIALFA/FADISP)
• Prof. Dr. Thiago Matsushita, Director of the ALFA Education Law School
• Prof. Dr. Lauro Ishikawa, General Coordinator of Courses at the ALFA Education Law School

Topics covered at the event

The event addressed central issues regarding the democratic regression and the rise of authoritarianism in Latin America, including:

• The impact of fake news in electoral processes;
• The strategic use of information and communication technologies in the populist context;
• Analysis of historical and contemporary cases of populist leaders in the region;
• The development of public policies aimed at strengthening democratic institutions.

Education as a pillar of democracy

The partnership between the institutions within the scope of the Erasmus+ DEMOS project reinforces the importance of civic education and of the constitutional formation as instruments to defend and consolidate democracy. The presence of the ALFA Educação Law School at the event highlights the central role of academia in building more just and resilient societies.