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Watching Brazil& #39;s crisis unfold "on the ground" during fieldwork in the peripheries of Rio & São Paulo, it& #39;s always struck me the that the public debate about Bolsonaro is completely detached from the reality of these places. Many myths badly need correcting
Here are a few...
Here are a few...
1. Antipetismo is deep and widespread
Antipetismo has had deep roots among the middle classes since at least 2005. Among the poor it is a recent & shallow phenomenon, largely linked to the economic crisis and the electoral cycle (ie. anti-incumbent sentiment during a crisis)
Antipetismo has had deep roots among the middle classes since at least 2005. Among the poor it is a recent & shallow phenomenon, largely linked to the economic crisis and the electoral cycle (ie. anti-incumbent sentiment during a crisis)
2. Everyone cares about corruption for the same reasons
Wealthy economic liberals care for ideological reasons bc they think corruption = the capture of an overgrown state. By contrast, the poor care largely bc they see it as symbolic of the state& #39;s failure to provide services
Wealthy economic liberals care for ideological reasons bc they think corruption = the capture of an overgrown state. By contrast, the poor care largely bc they see it as symbolic of the state& #39;s failure to provide services
3. "Centre-right" candidates can conquer Bolsonaro& #39;s electorate
A middle-class Bolsonarista might vote for Doria or Moro, but they have little wider appeal. Lower-income Bolsonaristas wd be more likely to shift to another far-right candidate, or to the centre-left or a celebrity
A middle-class Bolsonarista might vote for Doria or Moro, but they have little wider appeal. Lower-income Bolsonaristas wd be more likely to shift to another far-right candidate, or to the centre-left or a celebrity
4. Evangelical pastors have brainwashed the poor
Brazilian evangelicals are hugely diverse & often not especially devout. What churches tend to do is organise their followers socially, reinforce certain basic religious views & nudge them politically. Most are not "radicalised"
Brazilian evangelicals are hugely diverse & often not especially devout. What churches tend to do is organise their followers socially, reinforce certain basic religious views & nudge them politically. Most are not "radicalised"
5. Fake news brainwashed the poor
There is real distrust of news sources, but that doesn& #39;t mean most believe the wildest claims, eg. that Chloroquine cures Covid. This is mainly just noise. More important is that many do agree with Bolsonaro that Brazil& #39;s economy "can& #39;t stop"
There is real distrust of news sources, but that doesn& #39;t mean most believe the wildest claims, eg. that Chloroquine cures Covid. This is mainly just noise. More important is that many do agree with Bolsonaro that Brazil& #39;s economy "can& #39;t stop"
This shows why Bolsonaro keeps outmaneuvreing his opponents. He has a better intuitive understanding of what really distinguishes the social & political reality of this "other Brazil". Whereas the myths above just assume it is either exactly the same or a caricature of alterity
For some of my past work on these topics in English (more in the pipeline!), see the following:
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https://bit.ly/2EK7w0t
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E">https://bit.ly/30l3nHN&q... em português: https://bit.ly/36s1Kw3 ">https://bit.ly/36s1Kw3&q...
https://bit.ly/30gTJpx ">https://bit.ly/30gTJpx&q... (paywalled)
https://bit.ly/2EK7w0t
E">https://bit.ly/30l3nHN&q... em português: https://bit.ly/36s1Kw3 ">https://bit.ly/36s1Kw3&q...
Para falantes de português, recomendo fortemente os trabalhos da @_pinheira, @kalil_isabela, @EstherSolanoG e @JairoNicolau1 sobre temas relacionados
