60 years since the 1964 coup in Brazil | Interview with Edson Luis de Almeida Teles

Abstract

Edson Luis de Almeida Teles, a professor of Political Philosophy at the Federal University of São Paulo and a human rights activist, reflects on the 60th anniversary of the 1964 coup, highlighting three contested narratives about the dictatorial period. First, the idea that the coup was carried out solely by the military is reassessed, recognizing the alliance of diverse forces, including oligarchies and US interests. Second, the systematic repression was not limited to the left, affecting indigenous people, black people, and other marginalized groups. Finally, the transition to democracy was not a total rupture, as authoritarian elements persist in Brazilian society. Teles criticizes the dismantling of transitional justice initiatives after 2016, especially under the Bolsonaro government, and emphasizes the need for policies of memory and truth that guarantee justice and reparations. He notes that the militarization of current politics, although different from the dictatorship, reflects traces of authoritarian logic, resulting in the criminalization of poverty and the perpetuation of state violence. The analysis denounces the continuity of oppressive practices and calls for a critical understanding of the past to strengthen democracy in the present.