60 years since the 1964 coup in Brazil | Interview with Lucas Pedretti

Abstract

Lucas Pedretti, a researcher and professor of History, reflects on the 60th anniversary of the 1964 coup, criticizing the Lula government’s decision not to hold official events to commemorate the date. He highlights the frustration of civil society and academia, which has held more than 110 critical commemoration events. Pedretti observes the historiographical evolution, which now includes previously marginalized groups, such as favela residents, indigenous people, and LGBTQIA+ people. He assesses the situation of the dictatorship’s archives in Brazil, highlighting the need for conservation and greater access, especially to the archives of police forces and companies that also hold important information about the regime’s violence. Regarding Transitional Justice, he points out that initiatives have been slow and limited, with challenges in holding victims accountable and recognizing them. The dismantling of memory policies during Bolsonaro’s governments reflected an alarming setback. Pedretti discusses the current militarization, stating that state repression persists, especially against the black and peripheral population, while the rise of the extreme right has threatened the social pact established after the dictatorship. He concludes that it is vital to reevaluate democracy and ensure social justice to avoid the mistakes of the past.