From October to November 2024, the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy welcomed as Visiting Researcher Elisa P. Reis, Professor of Political Sociology at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. This fellowship took place in the context of the SNSF scientific exchange project “Elites and Democracy: Between Commitment and Disappointment” led by Graziella Moraes Silva, Co-Director of the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy.

On 2 December, a research seminar discussed their paper-in-progress, “From the Third Wave to the Backlash: changes and continuities in elite perceptions of democracy in Brazil” co-authored with Livio Silva-Müller, Doctoral Candidate in the Anthropology and Sociology Department and Research Assistant at the Democracy Centre. Their paper explores the evolving perceptions of democracy among Brazil's political, economic, and bureaucratic elites. Focusing on Brazil, the paper analyses changes in elite views on three key dimensions: commitment to democracy, trust in institutions, and trust in voters. A longitudinal perspective was offered by comparing contemporary findings with a 1993 survey, highlighting shifts in optimism over the past 30 years.  

The discussion emphasized differences in elite dynamics between the Global North and South. While Global North elites are frequently thought of as homogeneous and economically motivated, elites in the Global South, including those in Brazil, represent a diverse group encompassing political, business, and bureaucratic actors. By examining these attitudes, the paper sheds light on the role elites play in shaping the resilience and future of democratic governance in Brazil. The insights contribute to understanding how elite trust in democracy, institutions, and voters impacts the stability and evolution of democratic institutions amid global skepticism.