Brazil:Brazil: POLITICAL CULTURE, POLITICAL CULTURE, SOCIALIZATION AND SOCIALIZATION AND

RECRUITMENT RECRUITMENT

SystemBrazil SystemBrazil

Brazilian Political Culture: Brazilian Political Culture: OriginsOrigins

◦Thomastic synthesis of Greeks and St. Augustine

◦Expansiveness of New World environment

◦Rousseau

Political Culture: Political Culture: Characteristics Characteristics

Elite Dominated Emperor Dom Pedro II (age 61)

Legacy of patrimonialism

Civil society◦Emerged in response to authoritarian rule

Political Culture: Catholic Political Culture: Catholic Religion Religion

Catholic nation; largest number of Catholics in the world

Religious observance among Catholics traditionally low; of little importance electorally

Liberation theologyEcclesiastical base

communitiesNational Conference of Brazilian Bishops

National Cathedral: Brasilia

POLITICAL CULTURE POLITICAL CULTURE

EVANGELICAL EVANGELICAL

PROTESTANTS PROTESTANTS

Religious differences in

voting patterns minimal

Candomble

Political Culture of StatismPolitical Culture of Statism

State permeates societyCompliance and enforcement often

arbitrary Social solidarity movements in

favelas◦Began as mechanism of state control

during military dictatorship (1964 – 85)◦Movements evolved into institutions

that sought to influence those in authority

◦Became a force for democratization

Gender Gender

◦ Machismo and marianismo

◦ Under military rule traditional image and orientations towards

politics of women began to change. Political opportunity followed educational and

occupational opportunity.

◦ Authoritarianism had an economic impact on women: Took the lead in their communities’ struggles for

health care and sanitation Made demands relating to wages and worker rights

Racial Democracy: No & Racial Democracy: No & Yes Yes

◦ Racial Democracy myth

◦ Racial prejudice embedded in traditional Brazil

◦ Movimento Negro Unificado-The Unified Black Movement Against Racial Discrimination

◦ Affirmative action policies under President Lula

Brazilian Political Brazilian Political CultureCulture

How democratic?◦ Not tolerant of authoritarianism◦ No single vision of what kind of democracy they

supported◦ They distrust politicians, political parties, and

democratic institutions more than in the recent past.◦ Distrust democratic institutions today more than other

Latin Americans.◦ Less aware of their civic rights and responsibilities than

most Latin Americans◦ On the other hand, Brazilians behave in more

democratic ways than their answers to surveys may imply Turn out to vote at higher rates and believe their vote

matters more than on average across Latin America

Brazilians National PrideBrazilians National Pride

Attitudes toward Institutions Attitudes toward Institutions

Political Socialization in Political Socialization in Brazil Brazil

Changes in the socialization of Women◦ Economic development and political

organization carried over into democratic era◦ Increased activist orientation of women

Race as a component of political socialization

Print Media◦ Newspapers – confined to elite◦ Magazines

Socialization and Mass CommunicationSocialization and Mass Communication

Impact of Television (access is universal) ◦ Brings politics into Brazilian homes via the horario

gratuito free television time set aside during the election

campaigns for the political parties Individual candidates and parties receive coverage

during television news and any televised debates

◦ Telenovelas (prime-time soap operas) .project themes subtly influence the ways in which people view politicians and institutions.

Socialization and Neighborhood Socialization and Neighborhood

Political learning

Recruitment of Political Recruitment of Political Elites Elites

Traditional political familiesCoronales

Fernando Collor de Mello & Jose Sarney Wealth – especially in South-east and South

Military regime – opportunities for Técnicos

Movement to professional politicians (Fernando Henrique Cardoso)

Labor movement (Luis Ignacio da Silva ‘Lula’) Inclusion of more women

Luiza Erundina

Political Recruitment and Political Recruitment and Political Participation: Political Participation: Citizen Politics Citizen Politics

Blossoming of associations – 8,000 in the late 1970s

Organized movements around identities, single issues political and social rights, most notably those to protect indigenous peoples, the environment, and human rights and to gain land for the landless

Tactics International allies Direct confrontation Use of the courts

Role of NGOs

Political Participation as Political Participation as Political Recruitment Political Recruitment

Mass political participation◦Staggering amount of participation

Elections Participatory budgeting

Process by which hundreds of thousands of citizens meet in a series of open, public assemblies before the legislative budget cycle begins in order to establish spending priorities

Citizen PoliticsCitizen Politics

Grassroots church groupsUrban Neighborhood associations (8000) Professional associationsCountryside (Movement of Landless

Rural Workers)Mass demonstration and confrontational

politicsNon-governmental organizations

MASS POLITICAL MASS POLITICAL PARTICIPATION PARTICIPATION

Voting compulsorySubmission of blank ballots

(varied between 19% and 31% in 1990’s)

Voting is becoming more inclusive◦1960 – 19 million eligible to vote◦1998 – 106 million eligible to vote

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