Discussion on Brazil 2026 Elections
Tuesday, November 10, 2026 | 12:00 pm
Zoom
About:
Join us for a timely discussion of Brazil’s 2026 elections. Bringing together scholars, journalists, political analysts, and civil society leaders, this panel will examine the election results, the political and social forces that shaped them, and the challenges and opportunities facing Brazilian democracy. Panelists will explore what the elections reveal about Brazil’s evolving political landscape and the country’s future direction.
Guilherme Casarões is an associate professor of Brazil studies in the Department of Politics and International Relations at Florida International University (FIU). His research focuses on Brazilian foreign policy, Latin American politics, Brazil-Middle East relations, and the rise of the populist far right. Before joining FIU, he taught at Fundação Getulio Vargas in São Paulo and held visiting appointments at Brown University, the University of Michigan, and Brandeis University. He coordinates the Far-Right Observatory and serves as a senior fellow at the Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI). A frequent commentator on Brazilian and international politics, Casarões has published extensively on foreign policy, populism, and contemporary political developments in Brazil. He holds a PhD in political science from the University of São Paulo.
Olga Curado Olga Curado is a Brazilian journalist, writer, communications consultant, and coach with extensive experience in political communication and media training. She served for fourteen years as journalism director at Rede Globo and previously worked for leading Brazilian newspapers, including O Estado de S. Paulo, O Globo, and Jornal do Brasil. Since 2000, she has advised political leaders, government officials, and corporate executives in Brazil and abroad. Curado has trained presidential candidates, including Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, whom she prepared for televised debates during Brazil’s 2026 elections. She has also pursued training in Gestalt therapy in Italy, holds a fourth-degree black belt in Aikido, and is the author of books on communication, Aikido, poetry, and fiction.
James N. Green is the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Professor Emeritus of Modern Latin American History and Portuguese and Brazilian Studies at Brown University. A historian specializing in Brazilian politics, democracy, social movements, and human rights, he is the author or co-editor of eleven books, including We Cannot Remain Silent: Opposition to the Brazilian Military Dictatorship in the United States and Exile within Exiles: Herbert Daniel, Gay Brazilian Revolutionary. He previously directed Brown University’s Brazil Initiative and served as president of the Brazilian Studies Association (BRASA). He is currently National Co-Coordinator of the US Network for Democracy in Brazil and President of the Board of Directors of the Washington Brazil Office. In 2025, he received Brazil’s Order of Rio Branco in recognition of his contributions to the country.
Tainah Pereira is a Brazilian political scientist, activist, and Political Coordinator of Mulheres Negras Decidem (Black Women Decide), a social movement dedicated to expanding Black women's participation and representation in Brazilian politics. Her work focuses on democratic participation, political representation, and strengthening women's leadership in public institutions. She has experience in public policy, political advocacy, and international organizations and has contributed to initiatives supporting Black women candidates in Brazil. Pereira is a PhD candidate in International Political Economy at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and holds a master's degree in Political Science from the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO). In 2022, she participated in Stanford University's Draper Hills Summer Fellows Program on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law.
Olavo Passos de Souza is a PhD candidate in Latin American History and Transnational, International, and Global History at Stanford University. He is the founder of the Latin American and Caribbean History Workshop (LACH) and a researcher at Stanford’s Bill Lane Center for the American West. His dissertation, tentatively titled “Imagining an Empire: Constitutional Government and Federalism in Brazil, 1822–1842”, examines competing visions of constitutional government and federalism in post-independence Brazil. Beyond academia, he works as a translator and editor and contributes regularly to publications such as Jacobin, writing on contemporary Brazilian politics and history.
Notes:
This event is free and open to the public.
