Across the world, political actors are challenging rights in increasingly sophisticated ways. But are we looking in the right places? In this new podcast at the Review of Democracy, Gabriel Pereira speaks with María Paula Saffon about how we should understand backlash against rights today.
They discuss why familiar accounts of backlash may overlook some of its most consequential forms, explore the distinction between backlash and pushback, and unpack the idea of veiled backlash—a concept that sheds light on how rights can be weakened through seemingly ordinary legal and institutional practices. The conversation draws on examples from Latin America while reflecting on broader implications for democracy, the rule of law, and the future of rights.
María Paula Saffon is Assistant Professor of Law at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella (Argentina) and an Associate Researcher at Dejusticia (Colombia), specializing in democracy, constitutionalism, social movements, and legal mobilization.
The interview was conducted by Gabriel Pereira. Lilit Hakobyan edited the audio file.
