Baden-Württembergisches Brasilien- und Lateinamerika-Zentrum

TRT Brazil (2023-2024)

Anticommunism and Conspiracy Theories. A Study of their Historical Interconnections and (Anti)Democratic Impacts in Contemporary Brazil

This TRT project was an outstanding opportunity for interdisciplinary research exchange and the cultivation of lasting academic collaborations not only between Germany and Brazil, but also among researchers in Latin America and Europe more broadly. With the support of this generous seed funding, we organized an international conference on anticommunism in the Americas at UFMG, our partner university in Brazil. One of the key outcomes of this successful event is a forthcoming edited volume titled Red Scares. Anticommunism and Conspiracy Theories in the Americas. This TRT project also supported the research visit of a PhD student from Brazil, further strengthening academic ties between the two countries and advancing early-career development.


Researchers

Dr Katerina Hatzikidi (PI), ERC PACT Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Tübingen

Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Patto Sá Motta (Co-PI), Professor of History at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil

Ana Carolina Zimmermann (Visiting Researcher), PhD researcher in History, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil


“I am grateful for the remarkable opportunity to lead a two-year research project on the intersection of anticommunism and conspiracy theories in Brazil. It allowed researchers involved to develop and consolidate research in an area that has long been understudied, despite its critical importance for situating contemporary political discourse, historical memory, and ideological polarization. The support provided was instrumental in advancing original scholarship on a topic that resonates far beyond Brazil’s borders.”
Dr Katerina Hatzikidi

“I’m certain the project yielded important results for all the people and institutions involved, creating opportunities that will pave new paths in the future. I hope this will be the beginning of a long term cooperation between our universities in the field of Social Sciences and History.” 
Prof. Dr. Rodrigo Patto Sá Motta

“The research stay provided access to a wide range of bibliographic materials, including printed and digital books and scientific articles, which have directly contributed to the development of my doctoral dissertation. The talk I gave at the University was subsequently expanded and it has resulted in a forthcoming publication.”
Ana Carolina Zimmermann


Event within the scope of the TRT project at UFMG