José Álvaro Moisés, who passed away at the age of 80 on September 13, was a renowned Brazilian political scientist whose lifelong passion centered around understanding democracy. Born in Campinas in 1945, his early curiosity about society, football, and cinema led him to study social sciences at the University of São Paulo, where he enrolled in 1966. His political engagement began early when he joined Ação Popular, an organization opposing the military dictatorship in Brazil. This activism culminated in his imprisonment for a week, which solidified his commitment to democratic ideals.

Moisés completed his degree in 1970 and established himself as one of Brazil's leading political scientists in the following decades. He was influenced by significant figures in the field, including anthropologists Eunice Durham and Ruth Cardoso, sociologist Fernando Henrique Cardoso, and political scientist Francisco Weffort. His academic journey was guided by an emphasis on critical thinkers such as Karl Marx, Alexis de Tocqueville, and Norberto Bobbio, which shaped his approach to analyzing democracy in Brazil and beyond.

Throughout his career, Moisés engaged in rigorous discussions on democracy, making substantial contributions to political science in Brazil. His dedication to the subject placed him in the upper echelons of intellectual discourse regarding governance and democratic practices in the country. His passing marks the loss of a significant figure in the field, whose insights into democracy will continue to influence future generations of scholars and practitioners alike.