Conservative Brazil: Socioeconomic and Political Forces that are Reshaping Brazil as We Knew It (or Thought We Knew It)

Sergio Fausto
Executive Director, Fernando Henrique Cardoso (FHC) Foundation
Co-Director, "Plataforma Democrática" Project
Co-Director, "The State of Democracy in America" Collection

In his talk, Fausto will discuss a set of data shedding light on structural changes that are making the so-called Bible, Beef and Bullets coalition a key factor in Brazilian politics and delve into the characteristics of each of the three main actors of this coalition. He analyzes the mutually reinforcing conservative-progressive polarization in Brazil, to what extent has it crystallized, and how it affects the Brazilian political system. His talk also will explore similarities and differences between socio and political polarization in the US and Brazil, then conclude with comments on the challenges to democracy in both countries, having the global context in the backdrop. 

Sergio Fausto is the General Director of the Fernando Henrique Cardoso Foundation, co-director of the Democratic Platform project and of the Collection “The State of Democracy in Latin America.” He is a member of the Gacint-USP (Group for the Analysis of the International Situation of the University of Sao Paulo). He was an advisor to the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Development and Foreign Trade and the Ministry of Planning. In 2012, he received the Gus Hart Fellowship award which is awarded annually by the Chicago Council of Global Affairs. He is a member of the Advisory Council of the Palavra Aberta Institute and of the Council of Partners of the Centro Brasileiro de Análise e Planejamento (Brazilian Center for Analysis and Planning).