Boaventura de sousa santos

I am Boaventura de Sousa Santos, sociologist, jurist and professor, dedicated for over five decades to understanding social inequalities and reimagining justice through inclusive knowledge systems. My academic and activist path has always been rooted in the belief that another, more equitable world is possible.

I was born in Coimbra, Portugal, in 1940, in a working-class family. My early experiences teaching children introduced me to the power of education. I studied Law at the University of Coimbra, later pursuing a PhD in Sociology of Law in West Berlin and Yale. Living in the U.S. during the civil rights movement deeply influenced my thinking.

After returning to Portugal, I founded the Center for Social Studies (CES) at the University of Coimbra — a hub for critical thought, democracy, and human rights. CES connects academic research with social movements and fosters dialogue among Global South communities.

A key concept in my work is the Epistemologies of the South, which values knowledge from historically marginalized groups. This approach was shaped through my participation in the World Social Forum and is central to books like "Epistemologies of the South" and "The End of the Cognitive Empire". You can find my full bibliography on Amazon.

My commitment to participatory democracy, decolonial thinking, and legal pluralism has shaped my work across disciplines. I currently serve as Distinguished Legal Scholar at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and am Professor Emeritus at the University of Coimbra.

My quotes and reflections circulate widely, including on Goodreads. I’ve also been featured as a speaker in international forums, such as the Global Voice for Justice. For a full record of my academic work, visit my Ciência Vitae profile.

I remain active in writing, research, and public debate — driven by the conviction that knowledge, when rooted in justice, can be a powerful tool for transformation.