Diaspora Diplomacy in Action: How Brazilians Abroad Mobilised for Lula
The 2026 Brazilian elections demonstrated the growing potential of diaspora diplomacy as a form of grassroots transnational political engagement.
Brazilians living abroad did more than cast their ballots. Across Europe and other parts of the world, diaspora communities organised demonstrations, mobilised supporters, coordinated voter assistance and brought Brazil’s electoral debate into public spaces beyond the country’s borders.
Barcelona offered a particularly striking example. On 24 October, the eve of the second round, a major pro-Lula march brought together Brazilian community organisations, political activists and local supporters. Similar demonstrations took place in other European cities, including Lisbon, Berlin and London.
Demonstrations brought Brazil’s political debate to international audiences, linking domestic electoral issues with broader discussions about democracy, human rights and the future of the country.
For public diplomacy scholars and civil society organisations, Brazil offers a valuable case for examining how grassroots networks can mobilise internationally while retaining their own identities, interests and organisational autonomy.
This article presents a collection of amateur photographs and videos recorded by ordinary participants at events in different cities around the world. These personal recordings offer an unfiltered glimpse into the atmosphere of diaspora mobilisation, capturing the experiences and perspectives of people who took part in these events.
Below, we share a photograph and a video documenting the atmosphere of a demonstration in Barcelona, Spain, where members of the Brazilian community and other supporters gathered in connection with Brazil’s electoral campaign.
For the Institute, these events are particularly relevant to the study of diaspora diplomacy and grassroots public diplomacy.
