Contributions of an extension project to the issue of reconstructing democracy in Brazil today

Abstract

This article presents the characteristics, theoretical basis, objectives, methodology and some results of the extension project “Education, critical theories and emancipatory processes”, developed at the Federal University of Bahia between 2018 and 2023, in the city of Salvador. The article shows how the project developed, together with the social agents served, some reflections on urgent political issues in Brazil today, both for democracy and social movements, especially at this time of struggle against fascist hegemony. The article shows how the project was theoretically inspired by critical humanism, defined here as a broad approach and not as a specific theory. Within this general approach, the main theoretical-methodological reference used in this extension project was Latin American liberation theories, especially popular education. Finally, it presents as qualitative results the reflections developed throughout the project with agents of social movements, on four issues: 1. The extreme right in power; 2. The role of the middle class in rebuilding democracy; 3. What is the state; 4. Participatory democracy.