Registration is now open for the course “Popular Sovereignty, Political Participation, and the Crisis of Democracy,” offered by the Institute for Advanced Transdisciplinary Studies (IEAT/UFMG) during the second semester of the 2026 academic year. Taught by Professors Leonardo Avritzer and Diego Matheus de Menezes, the course is part of the Brazilian Forum for Advanced Studies (FOBREAV) program and offers an interdisciplinary examination of some of the most pressing challenges facing contemporary democracies.
The course carries a workload of 30 hours (2 academic credits) and will be offered in a hybrid format, with weekly sessions held on Thursdays from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., between August 13 and October 15, 2026. A total of 100 seats will be available, including 70 for undergraduate students and 30 for graduate students. The course will also be open to non-degree students through UFMG’s standalone course enrollment option.
Based on the premise that democratic consolidation depends not only on strong institutions but also on the active participation of civil society, the course will explore the concept of popular sovereignty in light of the political, social, and technological transformations of the twenty-first century. Topics include the contemporary crises of democracy, social inequalities, digital sovereignty, disinformation, the impact of artificial intelligence on democratic processes, and the challenges of fostering meaningful civic participation.
The course will also feature guest lecturers and will be organized around four thematic modules: sovereignty and popular sovereignty; the crisis of democracy; disinformation and digital sovereignty; and contemporary challenges to popular sovereignty. The program brings together key works in democratic theory and current scholarly debates, connecting national and international perspectives on political participation, democratic legitimacy, and governance.
This initiative is part of the activities of the Brazilian Forum for Advanced Studies (FOBREAV), reaffirming IEAT’s commitment to promoting transdisciplinary dialogue on issues of strategic importance to both society and the university.
Course Information
Course: Popular Sovereignty, Political Participation, and the Crisis of Democracy
Instructors: Leonardo Avritzer and Diego Matheus de Menezes
Dates: August 13 – October 15, 2026
Schedule: Thursdays, 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Format: Hybrid (including online sessions via Zoom)
Workload: 30 hours (2 academic credits)
Course Codes:
- Undergraduate: UNI 280
- Graduate: DCP920 – Section B
Enrollment Capacity: 70 undergraduate students and 30 graduate students (100 seats total)
Registration: In accordance with the UFMG academic calendar.