Brazilian Authoritarianism

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This book, written after the 2018 election of right-wing populist Jair Bolsonaro, offers a historically grounded analysis of authoritarianism in Brazil. Lilia Schwarcz challenges the widely-held national myth of Brazil as a tolerant and racially harmonious society. In Brazilian history textbooks, even centuries of slavery are portrayed as a benign, paternalistic system with a narrative that overlooks the reality of racial violence and exploitation. Schwarcz argues that this narrative obscures the deep-seated issues stemming from centuries of slavery, which have shaped the structural racism and oppression faced by Brazil's black and indigenous populations today. The book traces the roots of contemporary authoritarianism, highlighting the dire circumstances these communities endure. It also examines the events leading to the 2018 election, illustrating how Brazil's historical legacy of slavery and inequality facilitated the rise of Bolsonaro's far-right movement, despite an illusion of democracy. Schwarcz urges Brazilian intellectuals to actively combat authoritarian oppression in their nation, emphasizing the need for critical engagement with the country's troubling past and present.