On the threshold of the 21st century... at the start of the third millennium... New and Old Authoritarianisms

Abstract

The year 2025 marks an important milestone for the researchers who have been and continue to be part of the CNPq Research Group on Literature and Authoritarianism, as the interinstitutional project that gave rise to the group was approved in 2000, with the initial focus on developing research related to the production and reception of literary works in authoritarian political contexts. Moving between the analysis of works produced in authoritarian contexts and those by authors marked by oppression, the group also sought to identify critical readings of these works that would enable reflection on the historical and social contradictions of their respective eras. The various elements related to authoritarianism(s) have always been considered as the foundation for a consistent critique, avoiding the generic and simplistic nature of these issues, especially when highlighting strategies that legitimize violence and the persistence of censorship policies—whether official or stemming from reactionary stances on the part of society.