On this January 8th, Focus Magazine has selected important works available in the Perseu Abramo Foundation catalog that you can download for free.
On January 8, 2023, Brazil experienced one of the most serious events in its recent history. An attempted coup attacked the headquarters of the Three Powers and placed democracy under threat once again. The response, however, was stronger: the mobilization of society, the resistance of institutions, and the commitment to the Constitution ensured the defeat of authoritarianism. Today, those responsible for the anti-democratic acts are being held accountable for their crimes, reaffirming that, in Brazil, democracy is not a concession—it is a conquest and is not negotiable.
This episode left a deep mark on the collective memory and reinforced a certainty: defending democracy requires constant vigilance, critical reflection, and political commitment. In a context of advancing neoliberalism, neofascism, and the strategic use of institutions to erode rights, reading also becomes an act of resistance.
As Democracy versus Neoliberalism reminds us, only democratic improvement coupled with public policies committed to social justice can prevent further historical defeats for the progressive camp. In The Fight Against Fascism, the authors warn that recent setbacks are not accidental, but part of a power project that attempts to push the country backward, attacking rights, sovereignty, and the very idea of democracy.
Also in The Struck Constitution: 1988–2018, the Constitution is presented not as a neutral text, but as the result of a permanently strained political pact. When this pact is broken, the entire democratic architecture is at risk—exactly what was seen in the years leading up to and culminating in the coup attempts.
To ensure we never forget the value of democracy, its history, its conflicts, and its enemies, Focus Magazine has selected seven fundamental books on the subject, all available for free in the Perseu Abramo Foundation catalog. These works help us understand the recent past, interpret the present, and strengthen our commitment to a democratic future.
The books:
Democracy Versus Neoliberalism
Author: Wagner Romão (ed.)
Download here
The Fight Against Fascism
Author: Alberto Cantalice, Pedro Camarão
Download here
The Struck Constitution: 1988-2018
Author: José Celso Cardoso Jr. (ed.)
Download here
Risk and Future of Brazilian Democracy – Law and Politics in Contemporary Brazil
Authors: Juarez Guimarães; Marcelo Andrade Cattoni de Oliveira; Martonio Mont’Alverne Barreto Lima; Newton de Menezes Albuquerque (ed.)
Download here
Political and Democratic Reform – Themes, Actors, and Challenges
Author: Marcus Ianoni (ed.)
Download here
For Democracy, Against Arbitrariness
Author: Flamarion Maués (ed.); Zilah Abramo (ed.)
Download here
Readings of the Crisis – Dialogues on the PT, Brazilian Democracy, and Socialism
Author: Juarez Guimarães (ed.)
Download here
