Brazilian variations, essay

The crisis of democracy in Brazil in the late 2010s began tomaterialize with the soft coup that put Dilma Rousseff out of office in 2016 andwould eventually become epitomized by the political persecution of herpredecessor—the then former president who is currently serving his thirdterm—Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. During the short presidency ofMichel Temer (2016-2018), this sociopolitical crisis in the largest nation inSouth America presented profound connections with those that were then takingplace in neighbouring countries. After years of progress in the development ofsovereignty both on an individual and a national level—a process which wassteadily advanced by the generation of progressive South Americanadministrations of the early 21st century and their respectivemovements—citizens would again see a series of governments with strongauthoritarian traits resurging throughout the continent. These oppressive forceswould darken horizons with their overt disregard for the rule of law and humandignity. The various forms in which this authoritarianism manifested itself inthe different scenarios in the region were, in many ways, novelties, yet thesepolitical forms were also the continuation of long-standing lineages, systems,and processes that have oppressed South Americans for centuries.