Collective Mandates and Institutional Hacking: Strategies for Intersectional Political Mobilization in Brazil

This article delves into the realm of "collective mandates," innovative forms of political engagement aiming to depersonalize and transform the Brazilian institutional landscape. Emerging as an innovation to decentralize politics, these mandates address the issue of representation, promoting diversity within their teams and collaborating with social movements. The analysis spans from elections to the duration of mandates, highlighting their influence on social participation in shaping public policies. A collective candidacy involves a group of individuals running as a team, seeking votes for the slate and promising to work together if elected. Participants in collective mandates converge on various agendas, transcending traditional political boundaries. The research adopts an intersectional approach to comprehend how participants recognize the interconnection of social identities in forming political strategies, fostering cooperation among groups facing multiple forms of oppression. The study examines political engagement, emphasizing the plurality of identities and experiences among participants. The advocated values align with the struggles of social movements and political renewal, aiming to enhance democratic participation and institutionalize these movements. The article aims to present the challenges and transformative potential of collective mandates in the Brazilian political landscape as they explore intersectional solidarity within and between social movements. We seek to understand the limits and challenges of translating intersectionality into practice, exploring how this format goes beyond institutional rules without circumventing them, effectively "hacking" institutional politics. Additionally, we analyze how it can strengthen movements and communities, impacting policy changes, institutional shifts, societal attitudes, and public awareness.