Indigeneity and Bolsonarismo Beyond Bolsonaro: On the Urgency of Countering the Timeframe Thesis

This article examines the enduring influence of Jair Bolsonaro's ideology and policies on Indigenous rights in Brazil, even after his 2022 electoral defeat and the subsequent presidency of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Central to the discussion is the controversial "timeframe thesis," a legislative mechanism that restricts the demarcation of Indigenous lands to those occupied or under litigation prior to the enactment of Brazil's 1988 Constitution. The article examines how bolsonarismo continues to impact Indigenous populations by empowering anti-Indigenous agendas and perpetuating biopolitical and necropolitical control over Native lives and lands—a legacy that dates to the colonial period. As a result, the current legislative climate threatens Indigenous wellbeing and environmental stewardship while undermining broader democratic processes. To address this crisis, the paper advocates for a coordinated international response to raise awareness among policymakers and the public of the critical connections between Indigenous rights, consumer behavior, and global environmental futures.