From ‘what if’ to a world of possibilities: My journey from the University of Bergen to the University of São Paulo

Ianira Vieira (2025)

Reflections written by Ianira Vieira Master’s student at Politics and Governance of Global Challenges (UiB), part of LawTransform student group

The moment I told a friend in February 2023 that my intention to study abroad would soon materialise, but that I felt a sense of sadness that I had not even considered Brazil as an option, I could not have imagined what would happen a year later. At the time, I was preparing the final details of my application for a Master’s degree in Politics and Governance of Global Challenges at the University of Bergen in Norway, and I remember how impossible it seemed to reconcile this plan with my wish to get to know Brazil.

However, life has its surprises: between information sessions on mobility opportunities for the

3rd semester, emails and conversations with Lise Rakner, I learned that the University of São Paulo (USP) and the Department of Government had a bilateral agreement that would allow just that: a mobility semester with the possibility of courses at the University of São Paulo and internship in Brazil as part of my Master’s degree. I was excited to learn that not only was it possible, but that there was an additional incentive through LawTransform and the Autocratization Dynamics (Intpart) project that promotes international partnerships focused on understanding the challenges posed by autocratization and how legal tools may be used to legitimize undemocratic politics.

In August 2024, I set foot in São Paulo for the first time with emotions beyond my comprehension. My initial regrets about a ‘missed’ opportunity turned into the certainty that, after all, Brazil was also the place for my studies. The experience surpassed anything I could have imagined: the University of São Paulo proved to be a welcoming space with courses and seminars that were in direct dialogue with the global issues of my master’s degree – from the dynamics of governance to discussions on democratic challenges and climate crisis. The support of LawTransform and the Autocratization Dynamics (Intpart) project was fundamental in making this bridge between Norway and Brazil a reality.

Among the important people in this process was also my supervisor in Brazil, Professor Danielle Hanna Rached. In addition to guiding my academic interests, she was also extremely helpful. The courses I took at the University of São Paulo, such as ‘Political Institutions and Inequality’ (Marta Arretche), ‘Constitutional Theory’ (Conrado Hübner Mendes) and ‘Climate

Justice’ (Danielle Hanna Rached), expanded my understanding of global challenges immensely.

These subjects were taught by renowned professors, with Conrado Hübner Mendes and Danielle Hanna Rached also being LawTransform Global Fellows.

In addition, one of the valuable elements of my experience was the internship I did at the IDDD Instituto de Defesa do Direito de Defesa. The internship recommendation, the result of Danielle and Conrado’s collaboration, proved to be a good choice. I was immersed in a context where fundamental rights and guarantees were being debated, and I had the opportunity to put into practice some of the theoretical and methodological knowledge I had acquired both in Bergen and at USP.

This is perhaps why, when I think back to that first conversation in February 2023, I smile when I realise that we simply could not have imagined how things would turn out. That ‘what if…’ that sounded like an unattainable dream had become a vibrant reality, full of lessons learned and unforgettable encounters. And today, I am certain that São Paulo is, without a doubt, the world – a place where borders seem to dissolve in the face of our desire to know, to transform and to discover- an experience that I extensively described in the blog post Infinite Possibilities: My Exchange Experience at the University of São Paulo.

The Autocratization Dynamics (Intpart) project The project is funded by the Ministry of Education and Research in Norway through the funding scheme INTPART-International Partnerships for Excellent Education and Research and is managed by HK-dir and the Research Council of Norway.