Conceptualising community development through a pedagogy of convivência: youth, race and territory in Brazil

This chapter reflects upon the territorialised and racialised distinctions of rights experienced by young people living in Brazilian urban peripheries whose lives are crossed by the overlaps between territorial stigma, racism, poverty, social insecurity, involvement in illicit activities, contact with criminal justice and diverse experiences of violence and violation of human rights. The monsterisation and disposability of young people are explored to analyse how structural racism is reproduced by both institutional practices and practitioner attitudes towards. The chapter explores possibilities and limits of cultural translations, diverse socio-historical realities and contrasting policy-practice environments between Brazil and UK. Therefore, it explores potential lines of dialogue with academics and practitioners by introducing some critical concepts and approaches for community development through the lenses of a pedagogy of convivência/coexistence (Fernandes, Silva, Barbosa, 2018). The chapter highlights relevant principles as reminders for practice, advocacy, policy impact and, more widely, political incidence (incidência política), i.e., the ability of social agents to influence on the political processes and policy agendas.

Key words: youth, structural racism, practitioner attitudes, convivência/coexistence