Brazil
Brazil performs in the high range in two categories (Representation and Participation) of the Global State of Democracy (GSoD) framework and in the mid-range in Rights and Rule of Law. It is among the top 25 per cent of countries in several factors and all categories of the framework. Compared to 2018, multiple factors of Representation, Rights and Participation have advanced. Brazil boasts one of the world’s largest economies, driven in particular by exports of soybeans, iron ore, and petroleum, as well as raw sugar, beef, poultry, and sulfate chemical wood pulp.
Brazil gained independence from Portugal in 1822. Since then, the military has played a pivotal role in politics, most markedly during the military dictatorship (1964 -1985), known for suppression of political opposition and widespread human rights abuses. Re- democratization followed, though it was defined by hyperinflation, economic instability, social inequality, and food insecurity. While millions were lifted from poverty in the early 2000s through a series of social policies promoted during Lula Da Silva’s first term, inequality rates remain amongst the highest in the region, and poverty and inequality remain key drivers of contemporary politics. Violence is also a serious problem and police brutality is a growing concern.
Brazil is a diverse country, the result of European colonialization, African enslavement and Indigenous communities. Despite the myth of an existing “racial democracy”, inter-community relations have been marked by political and economic inequality. Indigenous groups have been disproportionately impacted by an acceleration of the deforestation in the Amazon and budget cuts to oversight agencies. Recently, Indigenous communities secured important victories for land-rights and opened doors for reparations, but major challenges remain. Religious identity is another cleavage, especially in light of increasingly powerful evangelical groups. Gender Equality is also a challenge, with only 17.5 per cent of women holding seats in the parliament. Violence against women is pervasive and the rates of femicide are high.
In 2013, mass protests revealed long-standing social and economic grievances. Public frustration was compounded by several corruption scandals (beginning in 2014) that allowed far-right groups to turn public discontent into political gains. In 2018, Jair Bolsonaro came to power on a platform of tackling crime, fighting corruption, and boosting economic growth. That administration also, however, was marked by a controversial relaxation of gun ownership laws, weakened gender equality, less funding for social welfare and weaker environmental protections and Indigenous land rights. In 2022, Lula Da Silva, who promised to reverse many of the former administration’s policies, came to power in the country’s closest election to date. The campaign period evidenced an increase and even “calcification” of political polarization, culminating in a violent public storming of the capital on 8 January 2023 by members of the public who distrusted the election results. Inquiries into these events are ongoing.
Looking ahead, it will be important to watch if recent advances in democratic performance are sustained, especially given the growing political polarization. The new government’s handling of persistent challenges in Rights -- with a focus on Political Equality and Basic Welfare – should also be watched. It will also be important to examine how the government addresses high levels of violence and the impact on Personal Integrity and Security.
Last updated: August 2024
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
October 2024
Government settles with mining company for Mariana tragedy victims
The Brazilian government and the Samarco mining company, responsible for a catastrophic dam breach in Mariana (Minas Gerais), have settled for USD 31 billion in compensation. In 2015, a dam holding a tailings pond filled with iron ore waste, belonging to the Samarco mining company, collapsed, leading to the release of a flood of toxic waste. The disaster, deemed as the result of the company’s negligence, killed 19 people, displaced thousands, led to the destruction of several villages, and polluted the Rio Doce, a river vital for many communities and which remains contaminated. The settlement is intended to be used for environmental recovery and to compensate over 300,000 victims. However, civil society groups argue it falls short of addressing the full extent of the damage. In parallel, a class action lawsuit representing over 600,000 victims of the Mariana tragedy is scheduled to start on 21 October in London against BHP, a mining giant that partially owns Samarco.
Sources: G1, Midia Ninja, AP news, Infobae, The Guardian
September 2024
Human Rights Minister ousted following sexual harassment accusations
Human Rights Minister Silvio Almeida has been dismissed from office following multiple accusations of sexual harassment that have shaken the government and caused public outrage. The scandal surfaced when the NGO, Me Too Brazil, received several complaints against the minister. Among the high-profile individuals accusing Almeida is Anielle Franco, head of the Racial Equality Ministry. Shortly after the accusations became public, the government decided to remove Almeida from his position, stating that keeping someone in office while facing such serious allegations would be incompatible with its commitment to defending women's rights. The president also announced that the accusations would be investigated by the federal police. Almeida, a renowned academic and leading voice in the fight against racial inequality in Brazil, was appointed Human Rights Minister by President Lula Da Silva in 2022 and enjoyed wide support from civil society before the accusations emerged. He has denied all accusations, calling them baseless and politically motivated.
Sources: Presidência da Republica, El Pais, Me too Brasil, Metropoles
August 2024
Social media platform X is blocked in Brazil
Social media platform X has been blocked in Brazil, following tension with the country’s Federal Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal, STF). The legal controversy began when Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered X to block certain users linked to the spread of misinformation related to the January 2023 riot, in which supporters of former President Bolsonaro stormed the presidential palace, Congress, and STF. Elon Musk, the company’s owner, refused, arguing that the orders constituted censorship. After the company decided to close its local office, Moraes ordered X to appoint a new legal representative in Brazil, as mandated by the “Internet Bill of Rights” law, an order the company did not comply with. Consequently, an STF five-judge panel upheld the platform’s ban, citing non-compliance with local regulations. Additionally, it established large fines for citizens who attempt to bypass the restriction using VPNs. Some experts argue that the STF's actions were justified and set a positive precedent for holding tech companies accountable to the laws of the countries in which they operate. Musk and other critics have accused the judiciary of suppressing free speech. The far-right opposition is preparing to request Moraes's impeachment in the Senate.
Update: On 8 October, Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the lifting of the ban on the X platform after the company paid fines that amounted to over USD 5 million, agreed to block nine profiles accused of spreading disinformation, and assigned a legal representative, complying with previous judicial orders.
Sources: The Conversation, Agência Pública, The Guardian, Senado Brazil, International IDEA (1), International IDEA (2), Internet Steering Committee in Brazil, G1, El Pais
July 2024
Lula restores Commission that investigates political disappearances under the dictatorship
Brazil's President Lula has reinstated the Special Commission on Political Deaths and Disappearances, dismantled during Jair Bolsonaro’s administration. Bolsonaro had declared the Commission's work as complete, dismissing the ongoing demands of victims' families. This move, fulfilling a campaign promise, renews the Commission's mission to investigate and identify victims of the military dictatorship (1964-85). The Commission will also consider recognizing new groups, such as rural workers and Indigenous people, who have not yet been individually acknowledged as victims of state violence. Human rights groups had urged Lula to restore the Commission, which was originally established in 1995 to locate people who were forcefully disappeared during the last dictatorship and compensate their families. The decision has been praised as crucial for memory, truth, and justice efforts.
Sources: Vermelho, Bonde, Jornal de Brasilia, Pagina 12
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Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2023
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Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time
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