Miguel Carvalho's book ‘Por dentro do Chega | A Face Oculta da Extrema Direita em Portugal’ (Penguin, 2025) has been the focus of media attention in Portugal due to its extensive and in-depth analysis. With a particular focus on this book and other European and Latin American contexts, this roundtable proposes a broad critical debate on the tensions affecting contemporary democracies.

Based on an analysis of the rise of extremist discourse within populist logic, the interventions analyse the challenges to democratic institutions, processes, and values. The discussion will focus on the emotional, social, political and cultural causes of popular discontent, as well as on the communication and mobilisation strategies that reinforce divisions and authoritarian preferences.

In this roundtable, moderated by Rosa Monteiro (FEUC/CES), Cristiano Gianolla (CES), Marcela Uchôa (FLUC), João Figueira (CEIS20/UC) and Miguel Carvalho (journalist and author of the book ‘Por dentro do Chega’) will seek to identify ways to strengthen democracy and rethink citizen participation in a time of socio-political transformation.

Activity within the scope of the doctoral programme Democracy in the 21st Century