Thinking “From Below”: the Symbolism of Marielle Franco to the theoretical transformation of International Relations

This article aims to discuss how Marielle Franco’s symbolism can contribute to the theoretical transformation of International Relations (IR). Therefore, we will reflect on the political trajectory of Marielle Franco, a black woman, LGBTQIA+, sociologist, city councilor, and anti-racist feminist act...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mariana Felix Quadros, Maria Eduarda Piacentini, Jocieli - Decol
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Graduate Programme in International Strategic Studies (PPGEEI) 2021-12-01
Series:Revista Conjuntura Austral
Subjects:
Online Access:https://seer.ufrgs.br/ConjunturaAustral/article/view/113886/65265
Description
Summary:This article aims to discuss how Marielle Franco’s symbolism can contribute to the theoretical transformation of International Relations (IR). Therefore, we will reflect on the political trajectory of Marielle Franco, a black woman, LGBTQIA+, sociologist, city councilor, and anti-racist feminist activist, associating her figure to the theoretical and political debate on International Relations through the concepts of race and gender. The question that guides this research is: how does the figure of Marielle Franco relate to the theoretical transformation of IR? To answer this, qualitative and exploratory research will be conducted, guided by critical theories of International Relations. Our central argument is that the symbolism of Marielle Franco represents the urgency to pluralize and transform the discipline, connecting theory and politics and decentralizing its state-centered analytical focus to the incorporation of multiple actors and other perspectives that think the international "from below”. In this way, relating Marielle to IR guides us towards a new worldview, in which the agency of historically marginalized and silenced bodies is incorporated into the international reality.
ISSN:2178-8839