Grapevine

Authoritarian populism has weakened democracy in Brazil, says study

The rise of authoritarian populism in Brazil has weakened structures that stabilize democracy—mirroring trends in wider global society and potentially making it harder for the country to strengthen its democracy in future, a new study reveals. The findings are published in the journal Direito Público.

The experiences of Brazilians in recent years under the administration of former President Jair Bolsonaro highlight the weakening of welfare systems and human rights protections critical in maintaining democratic stability.

This, in turn, contributed to the rise of militarism in government, a pattern seen in other populist regimes, with the absence of warfare during Brazil's democratic transition in the 1980s reducing the capacity of its institutions to resist militarization.

Researchers from the Universities of Birmingham and Manchester say that polarization on welfare policies and rejection of international human rights severely weakened these foundational elements.

Co-author Professor Chris Thornhill, from the University of Birmingham, commented, "Brazil's experience reflects global trends of democratic erosion and resilience, highlighting the crucial role of welfare systems and human rights protections in maintaining democratic stability. Strong democracies are built on inclusive welfare provision and broad access to international human rights, but authoritarian populism undermined these foundations, creating an exclusionary view of citizenship and intensifying social conflicts.