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Brazil'sGenerationofDiscontent|ForeignAffairs

Brazil'sGenerationof
Discontent
AnEfforttoMakeFringePoliticsMainstream
ByCatherineOsborn

Brazilisanythingbutcalm.Shortlyaftertheendof
thesummerOlympics,theSenateimpeached
PresidentDilmaRousseffandremovedherfrom
office.Thiscameaboutafteracorruptionprobe
revealedwidespreadbriberyamongthepolitical
elite.Ontopofthepoliticalturmoil,thecountrys
economyispredictedtoshrink3.3percentthisyear
aftera3.8percentcontractionin2015,already
Brazilsworstrecessiononrecord.Butthemoment
thecountryspoliticalorderactuallybegantounravel
wasin2013,whenmillionsofpeopleacrossthe
countrytooktothestreetswitharangeofdemands
fromaffordablepublictransportationtofixestothe
governmentbureaucracy.Thesystemshockofthese
JuneJourneysservedasacatalystinpushingthe
countryinoppositedirectionsleftandright.
TwoyoungprotestorsfromRiodeJaneiro,Mayara
DonariaandGustavoMota,wereamongthosewho
gatheredinwhatwereconsideredBrazilslargest
protestsin20years.Donariaisaleftiststudentfrom
thelowincomeRiofavelaofMarandmarchedwith
friendswhowereinvolvedinsocialjustice
campaigns,principallyagainstpoliceviolence.Mota,
wholeansright,runsagraphicdesignstartupinthe
condopackedbeachsideRioneighborhoodofBarra
andhascalledforlessgovernmentregulationon
businesses.
Thetwodontknoweachother,buttheyboth
campaignedvigorouslyintheleaduptoRio's
municipalelectionsthismonthwhichhaveserved
asareferendumonprocorporatepoliticiansinthe
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citybutatoppositeendsofBrazilsdizzying
politicalspectrum.Donariawantedsafer
communitiesandforthoselivinginthefavelastobe
directlyinvolvedincraftingpublicpolicy,andMota
campaignedforaleanercitybudget.Thesetwo
youngBrazilians,whooncemarchedthesamestreets
together,werenowattheoppositepolesofadivisive
struggleoverthefutureoftheircountry.Infact,it
wasBrazilianslikethem,operatingoutsideofthe
traditionalpoliticalunionsandparties,whosenew
demandsonpowerputintoquestionthe
compromisesthathaddefinedBrazilinprevious
years.
In2013,theWorkersParty(PT)hadpresidedovera
commoditiesdriveneconomicboomthatbroughtan
estimated30millionBraziliansoutofpoverty.But
growthhadbeguntoslowandconsumerpricesand
feesforpublictransportationrose.Ascitizensfelt
theirwalletslighten,theywatchedasbillionsofstate
fundswenttowardbuildingsoccerstadiumsinstead
ofschoolsorothermuchneededpublic
infrastructure.Online,Braziliansexchangedarticles
aboutlocalpoliticsandtheglobalstreet
mobilizationsofrecentyears,fromOccupyWall
StreettoTurkeysGeziPark.Whenpolicebeatbacka
protestagainstabusfareincrease,Brazilians
respondedbypouringoutinthemillions.
Ilearnedlotsaboutorganizingduringthattime
frompeoplewhohadbeenpartofsocial
movements,saidDonaria,a20yearoldevent
organizerforartsandcultureinitiatives.Shehas
becomeanadvocateforfavelaresidents.Shessought
toraiseawarenessofthecontinuedcasualtyheavy
policeoperationsinMarbyorganizingflashmobs
atplazasandholdingworkshopsinpublicschools.
Mota,34,whoservesasamentortonew
entrepreneurs,hascenteredhisagendaaround
rootingoutcorruption.Hehasbefriendedactivists
fromthebusinesscommunitywhobelievethatthe
ongoinginvestigationsofbriberyatthetoplevelsof
governmentshouldbeanabsolutepriority.
Despitetheirdiverseviews,thoselikeDonariaand
Motaareunitedbytheirfeelingthatthegovernment
hadfailedthem.PabloOrtellado,ascholaratthe
UniversityofSoPaulo,explained,Onedemand
sharedbymanyofthediverse2013protesterswas
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thatthegovernmentdobetteratguaranteeingbasic
servicesforcitizens.
Butinsteadofdialoguingwithdemonstrators,the
Braziliangovernmenthasrespondedmostoftenwith
arrests,teargas,andrubberbullets.Donaria
eventuallyjoinedanetworkofyoungfavelaactivists
fromacrossthecitywhowereengagedincitizen
journalismwithafocusonhumanrights.Motas
cohortofanticorruptionactivistssupporteda
crusadinggroupofprosecutorswho,through
theOperationCarWashprobe,confirmedmany
Brazilianssuspicionsofsweetheartdealsbetween
favoredcompaniesandhighlevelgovernment
operatives.Individuals,suchasexoil
executivePedroBaruscoandexWorkersParty
ministerJosDirceu,werejailedforpocketing
millions.
Rousseffs2014reelectionbattlesawtheplatformsof
bothherleftwingWorkersParty(PT)anditsmain
opposition,thecenterrightBrazilianSocial
DemocracyParty(PSDB),marchingevermore
towardthecenter,whilegrassrootsactivismmoved
farthertotheleftandright.Organizersontheleft
focusedonhousingrights,policeviolence,andthe
qualityofpubliceducation.Organizersontheright
calledforprivatizationofstateownedcompanies,
criticizedthecountrysballooningfiscaldeficit,and
foughtforRousseffsimpeachment.Shortlyafterher
win,membersofthenewlyformedrightwingFree
BrazilMovementrecruitedanattorney,who,with
paymentfromthecentristBrazilianDemocratic
MovementParty(PMDB),drewupimpeachment
chargesbasedonbudgetarymanipulationthatboth
Rousseffandherpredecessorshadcommitted.
Thesuccessoftheseactivistsunderscorestheforceof
Brazilsgrowingandconsolidatingright.Inrecent
years,avocalgroupofyoungBrazilianshavejoined
ideologicalranksformerlyconfinedtoasmall
handfulofrightwingresearchcenters,withmany
newcomersrecruitedbyinternationalfreemarket
organizationssuchasStudentsforLibertyandthe
AtlasNetwork,bothofwhichhave
receivedfundingfromU.S.conservativegroupslike
theCharlesKochFoundation.

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AccordingtoBernardoSantoro,directorofBrazils
farrightthinktankInstitutoLiberal,aneffortto
AmericanizetheBrazilianrightisunderway,by
peopleunitingreligiousconservatismwithminimal
stateeconomics,twoideasthathavenotalways
alignedinBrazil.Evangelicalpoliticianswhoallied
withtheWorkersPartyinthepastweresuccessfully
courtedbytherightduringtheimpeachment
process.SantorosupportstheconservativeSocial
ChristianParty(PSC)andspentthiselectionseason
helpingitdeveloparightwingeconomicplatform.

RodrigoConstantino,awidelyreadrightwing
commentatorwhoadmiresthelateAndrew
Breitbart,championstheunificationofBrazils
right,which,duringproimpeachmentrallies,
broughtoutoldtimerswhocalledfortraditional
familyvaluesandareturntomilitaryrule.
Brazil'ssuspendedPresidentDilmaRousseffreadsalettertot
ThemostpublicfacesofBrazilsrisingrighthave
beenyouthleaderswhosemessaginghasfocusedon
connectinghighunemploymentitiscurrently
at11.8percentwithwastefulspendingand
corruptioninthePT.
Fortoolong,economicliberalismwasanoldmanin
asuitandtietalking.Totallyinaccessible,saidKim
Kataguiri,20,whorosetofameasaYouTube
personalityaroundthetimehehelpedfoundtheFree
BrazilMovement.Forinspiration,Kataguirilooks,
ironically,toSpainsPodemos,aleftwingpopulist
partyledbythecharismaticpoliticalscientistPablo
Iglesias.Althoughtheirideologiesdiffersharply,
KataguiriadmiresthatPodemosallowspeopleto
feelliketheyareprotagonists.ThisFebruary,he
helpedorganizeahashtagcampaigncalledThis
ImpeachmentIsMine,whichhelpedmobilizestreet
demonstratorsagainstRousseff.
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Brazil'sGenerationofDiscontent|ForeignAffairs

Bothleftandrightantiestablishmentcampaigns,
whichdominatedintheleaduptotheOctober
municipalelections,loosened,morethanever,the
traditionalpartiescontrolofthepoliticalnarrative
inBrazil.Motaranforcitycouncilasamemberof
Brazilsfirsteverlibertarianparty,PartidoNovo,or
NewParty,whichwasfoundedbyaprominent
bankerandwhichaimstoportbusinessmanagement
principlestopolitics.Meanwhile,Donaria
campaignedwiththeSocialismandLibertyParty
(PSOL),apartytotheleftofthePTthatfocuseson
grassrootsorganizingandconsultationwithitsbase
todetermineitsplatform.
ThePSOLandNovoarestandoutsinBrazilsseaof
shapeshiftingparties,whereplatformsoftenchange
withthepoliticalwinds.Inthefirstroundof
municipalelectionsonOctober2,bothpartiessaw
theirnumberofsupportersgrow.Novo,initsfirst
election,wonassemblyseatsinfourcities.The11
yearoldPSOLwonassemblyseatsin32citiesin
Rio,itscandidate,MarceloFreixo,madeittothe
mayoralrunoff,whichwillbeheldonOctober30th,
bydefeatinganopponentwhowasallowed19times
moretelevisionadvertisingduetoregulationsthat
favorlargepartycoalitions.
Brazilianvotersbrokewiththestatusquonotonlyin
theirchoiceofcandidatesbutalsowiththeroutes
theytooktomakethosechoices.Ratherthanvoting
basedontraditionalpartylines,tensof
thousandsusedonlineplatformssuchasThey
RepresentMe,VoteforaFeminist,andtheActivist
Caucustofindoutwhichcandidatetheyaligned
with.Indeed,oneofthepopularslogansduringthe
2013protestswasYoudontrepresentus.
Buoyedbysuchinitiatives,ablackleftwingfeminist
namedTalriaPetrone,whooccupiedcityhallasa
protesterin2013,nabbedthehighestnumberof
votesinthisyearscrowdedcitycouncilelectionin
Niteroi,whichisadjacenttoRio.Sheis
unconventionalbecause90percentofhernew
colleaguesarewhitemen.TherightwingFreeBrazil
Movementpromotedasetofcandidatesfromacross
anumberofconservativepartieswhopledgedto
encourageprivatizationineducationandhealthcare
andtobefiscallyresponsibleamongtheirranks,
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theysawtheelectionofonemayorandsevencity
councilmembersnationwide.
Plentyofinformalgroupsmet,too,todiscusshowto
voteinapostimpeachmenteraasrevelationsfrom
OperationCarWashlaidbarethecorruptionof
partiessuchasthePTandthePMDB,whosechair,
MichelTemer,isnowBrazilspresident.Theweek
beforetheelection,MauroRochlin,aneconomics
professorattheGetlioVargasFoundation,atop
rankingprivateuniversity,andhissonIanhosted
twodozenfriendsandcolleaguesonthebackporch
oftheirhomeinRiosupscaleGveaneighborhood.
Ineverusedtodothingslikethis,MauroRochlin
saidtothecrowd,butwereinanunusualtime.
Motawasoneoffourcandidatesfromfourdifferent
partieswhohadcometopresenttheirplatforms.He
spokeaboutthestartupsthathedhelpedincubatein
richandpoorneighborhoodsacrossthecityandthe
difficultiesofdoingso,giventheredtape.
Despitetheimpendingarrivaltocityhallsacrossthe
nationofrepresentativeswhoarosefromthe
grassrootsmovementsofthelastfewyears,Brazils
mainstreampoliticalmachinestilldominates.InSo
Paulo,thestrategistsofPSDB
successfullyrebrandedalongtimeactoronthe
politicalscene,JooDoria,asanoutsider.Hisstint
ontheBrazilianversionofthetelevisionshowThe
Apprenticeandbusinessmanprofileearnedhim
comparisonswithDonaldTrump.InRio,Freixos
runoffopponentistheBrazilianRepublicanPartys
(PRB)MarceloCrivella,anevangelicalbishopwho,
foratime,refusedtodebate,hidhisscheduleof
publicappearances,andmaystillwin.New
initiativesinthiselectionhavebroughtcoherence
andmoralauthority,CamilaRocha,aresearcherat
theUniversityofSoPaulospoliticalscience
department,said.Butthepartymachinesstillhave
power.
NowhereisthisclearerthaninBrazilsfederal
congress.UndertheleadershipofTemer,whohasa
14percentapprovalrating,thesolutionstosalvage
theeconomyconstitutearightwardturn,targeting
thecountrysfiscaldeficitbeforeaddressing
itsproductivitygaporuneventaxstructure.The
governmentiscurrentlyfasttrackingadramatic20
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yearspendingfreezethatwouldoverride
constitutionalrequirementsforinvestmentsinheath
andeducation,whichhascausednationwide
protests.InAugust,aTemerministerdiscardeda
longtimeagendaitemoftheBrazilianleftapactto
reducehomicidesinthecountry,whichhasamurder
rateof32.4outofevery100,000people,the11th
highestintheworld.

Amassivechallengeisalackofpublic
understandingaboutthemeasuresthatarebeing
proposedrightnow,Ortelladosaid.Manyofthe
lawmakerswhoimpeachedRousseff,decryingher
economicmismanagement,votedtoblockausterity
whenshetriedtoimplementitin2015.Asnews
organizationsinBrazilarebleeding
staffersandfieldingaccusationsofbias,civilsociety
andnewjournalisminitiativesareattemptingto
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piecetogetherafactual,historicallysituateddebate
abouteconomicpolicy.SitessuchasPblica,Lupa,
andAosFatoshaverevealedinconsistenciesfrom
politiciansacrossthespectruminRiosandSo
Paulosmunicipalelections.
Donaria,whoiscampaigningforFreixo,remains
upbeat.Tome,wevealreadywon,shesaid.Ive
becomeconnectedtopoliticsandthecityinaway
thatsnotgoingtoendafterthiscampaign.
Motaagrees.Theentirecountryhasgonethrougha
politicalawakeningofsorts.Now,peopleknowthe
namesofSupremeCourtjusticesliketheyusedto
knowplayersonBrazilsnationalsoccerteam,he
said.Theyvesteppedintothegame,anditsastep
forward.

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