Two publications associated with the Project on Autocratic Legalism (PAL) have recently received major academic awards in Brazil and internationally, recognizing contributions to the study of authoritarianism, democracy, and law.
Estado de Direito e Populismo Autoritário Wins Best Legal Book Award in Brazil
The volume Estado de Direito e Populismo Autoritário (“Rule of Law and Authoritarian Populism”), published by FGV Press and edited by Oscar Vilhena Vieira, Raquel Pimenta, Fabio de Sa e Silva, and Marta Machado, was awarded 1st place in the Law category of the 2024 ABEU Prize, Brazil’s leading award for academic publishing.
Bringing together leading scholars of law and politics in Brazil and beyond, the book critically examines how legal institutions are used—and contested—in contexts of authoritarian populism. It engages with empirical and theoretical questions central to the PAL agenda, exploring the tension between constitutionalism and anti-democratic mobilization.
This honor recognizes not only the editorial excellence of the volume but also its timely contribution to public debate and academic reflection in Brazil and across Latin America.
Read more: FGV News Release
Autocratic Legalism 2.0 Named Best Article of 2022 by VRÜ / WCL
In a major international recognition, the article Autocratic Legalism 2.0: The Use of Law Against the Rule of Law, authored by Fabio de Sa e Silva and published in Verfassung und Recht in Übersee / World Comparative Law (VRÜ/WCL), received the Best Article Award for 2022 from the journal’s editorial board and publisher Nomos Verlag.
The article revisits and advances the theory of autocratic legalism by exploring how contemporary regimes do not merely bend the law but reinvent legality itself as a tool of authoritarian governance. Emphasizing performativity and legalistic imagination, it offers a nuanced view of how autocrats claim legitimacy while dismantling democratic guarantees.
According to the prize committee, the article stood out for its “theoretical sophistication, methodological clarity, and relevance for current global challenges.”
Read the full press release: VRÜ/WCL Announcement