Paper short abstract:

Examining global Brazilian migrant groups, this presentation analizes political motivations amid Brazil's evolving landscape. Focused on Lisbon's Coletivo Andorinha, it unveils flexible activism projecting present morals into the future, exemplifying crafting politics in interesting times and spaces

Paper long abstract:

This presentation delves into the simultaneous emergence of collectives of Brazilian migrants in various global cities, without direct connections. The study seeks to comprehend the nuanced political assertion originating from diverse contextual exigencies. These include the protracted political discourse in Brazil since 2016, the imperative of maintaining affiliations with Brazil, and the exigencies intrinsic to the migrant experience, compelling the creation of groups characterised by security and affective bonds.

We analize the motivations underpinning this collective activism, exploring the challenges of migrant life and the moral obligation to engage in and denounce antidemocratic practices within the context of globalisation. Highlighting the flexibility inherent in all these collectives, activated at specific moments influenced by events in both Brazil and their resident nations, the activism takes diverse forms such as protests, debates, and meetings. This flexibility is construed as a forward projection, transposing prevailing moral convictions into future contexts.

The study zooms in on Coletivo Andorinha in Lisbon as an ethnographic example, examining the intertwining of individual motivations to shape collective actions. Notably, within the contemporary landscape, the emergence of an online collective assumes significance. This digital platform serves as a dynamic space that aggregates various migrant groups, fostering interconnection, and trying to ensure the sustained existence of these collectives. By elucidating the dynamics of both physical and virtual spaces, the research enriches our comprehension of how these collectives exemplify the concept of 'crafting politics' within the complex interplay of intersecting times and spaces.