New wave of populism: radical right-wing movements

The world is facing a wave of radical right-wing populism, and Brazil has not been left out of this process. The far right is no longer a fringe political force and is increasingly capable of influencing public debate, contesting elections with a chance of winning, and, when in power, testing the limits of the democratic rule of law, in some cases putting democracy itself in check.

The eighth season of the series Vale a Pena Perguntar addresses the far right and how it acts to consolidate itself as a political force, with an institutional presence, a mobilized social base, and effective communication and power strategies.

The videos feature reflections from experts (see below) that help to understand how the far right operates — in institutions, on the streets and online, in culture — and what risks it poses to Brazilian democracy.

Vale a Pena Perguntar – the future begins with good questions.

This season is divided into three episodes and three mini-episodes:

Episódio

New populist wave: radical right-wing movements

What are the reasons that lead so many voters to lean toward the extreme right? This first episode addresses cultural wars, voter profiles, the power of conspiracy theories, and the dilemmas of democratic coexistence.

Episódio

Bolsonarism and the radical right

What explains the strength of Bolsonarism in Brazil? This episode analyzes the origins of the phenomenon, its connection to religion, how it structured itself in power, and its strategies for occupying spaces in society.

Episódio

Networks and streets: mobilization of the radical right

How does the radical right relate to the digital environment? This episode explores the use of networks for political mobilization by radical right-wing populism and examines its relationship with big tech companies.

Pílula

Affective polarization and political identities, with Pablo Ortellado

Describes the phenomenon of affective polarization and how it is based on the growing antagonism between political identities.

Pílula

Bolsonaro’s Digital Party, with Marcos Nobre

Explains what the so-called Bolsonaro Digital Party is, how it works, and why it is different from traditional parties.

Pílula

Tolerance and democracy, with Wilson Gomes

Reflects on the place of tolerance as a core value for democracies.

Experts interviewed:

Ana Laura Barbosa
Professor of Constitutional Law at the Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing (ESPM).

Guilherme Casarões
Professor of Brazilian Studies at Florida International University and coordinator of the Observatório da Extrema Direita (OED).

Isabela Kalil
Professor of Political Science and Anthropology at the Fundação Escola de Sociologia e Política de São Paulo (FESPSP) and coordinator of the OED.

Letícia Cesarino
Adjunct professor in the Department of Anthropology and the Graduate Program in Social Anthropology at the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC).

Marcos Nobre
Professor of Political Philosophy at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp) and researcher at the Centro Brasileiro de Análise e Planejamento (Cebrap), where he directs the Centro para Imaginação Crítica(CCI).

Pablo Ortellado
Professor of Public Policy Management at the Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades da Universidade de São Paulo (EACH-USP).

Wilson Gomes
Professor at the School of Communication at the Faculdade de Comunicação da Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA).