The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) revoked the "Honoris Causa" doctorate title that had been attributed to António Salazar, the Portuguese dictator. Researchers at the institution consider that this decision serves to preserve historical memory and prevent similar episodes from recurring in the future.
Vantuil Pereira, dean of the Center for Philosophy and Human Sciences (CFCH) at UFRJ, was the one who proposed the removal of the tribute. According to the historian, "the big message is so that history does not repeat itself," emphasizing the importance of learning from the past.
For the researchers involved in this initiative, the recovery of memory about dictatorships is fundamental. The revocation of the title to Salazar is part of a broader effort to reflect on historical figures and episodes that must be remembered in a critical manner.
