brazil: political culture, socialization and recruitment
TRANSCRIPT
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
Chart compare Chart compare