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/
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.
Sources: The Conversation, Agência Pública, The Guardian, Senado Brazil, International IDEA (1), International IDEA (2), Internet Steering Committee in Brazil
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
June 2024
Brazil decriminalises marijuana possession for personal use
On 25 June, Brazil's Supreme Court (STF) decriminalised the possession of up to 40 grams of marijuana for personal use, completing a legal process that began in 2015. The decision characterizes marijuana possession as an illicit act, but without criminal penalties, and sets a limit of 40 grams or six cannabis plants for personal cultivation. Previous legislation relied on judges, prosecutors, and police to define the quantity that would differentiate a consumer from a trafficker. Such decision-making often led to a racial bias where white and Black individuals with the same amount of drugs were characterized differently. The ruling has general effects for all cases within the Brazilian judiciary, providing thousands of individuals, many of whom are Black and poor and have been disproportionately affected by previous regulations, with an opportunity to appeal their sentences. The decision aims to address the country's overcrowded prison system, which has seen its population triple since 2000, and to reduce racial and economic biases in law enforcement. The decision has been criticised in Brazil’s Congress for its content and for the manner in which it was approved which was seen as a overreach of the STF.
Sources: El Pais, Le Monde, Brasil de fato, Pagina 12, Globo, Camara dos deputados Brazil
May 2024
Climate Change and infrastructure failures exacerbated deadly floods
Between 24 April and 4 May, historic floods devastated southern Brazil, particularly affecting Rio Grande do Sul. This catastrophe, intensified by climate change and the El Niño phenomenon, left over 90 per cent of the state underwater, displaced more than 580,000 people, and caused 172 deaths, with dozens still missing. The floods overwhelmed infrastructure, leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity or water and disrupting essential services. A team of researchers from various countries concluded that human-caused climate change made the intense rainfall event twice as likely and 6-9 per cent more severe. Additionally, the federal and local governments’ poor disaster preparedness and inadequate maintenance of flood protection infrastructure exacerbated the impact. Despite early warnings from the National Meteorologist Institute (Inmet), communication failures and insufficient investment in flood defences contributed to the disaster's severity, which affected heavily marginalised sectors such as Indigenous and Quilombo communities.
Sources: North American Congress on Latin America, El Pais, World Weather Attribution, Midia Ninja, Globo
See all event reports for this country
Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2023
Basic Information
Human Rights Treaties
State party
Signatory
No action
Performance by category over the last 6 months
Global State of Democracy Indices
Hover over the trend lines to see the exact data points across the years
Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time
Use the slider below to see how democratic performance has changed over time
