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Autocratization in Brazil

Krusell Krarup, Malthe LU (2020) STVK02 20201
Department of Political Science
Abstract
Abstract
Brazil was military dictatorship for decades, but turned democracy in 1985, and was an improving democracy for many years, while several other Latin American countries fell back into authoritarianism. However, since 2009 the democratic outlook has looked bleaker, and Brazil is steadily sliding back into autocracy. This study seeks to explain why Brazil suddenly started autocratization. The thesis operationalizes a theoretical framework of autocratization based on three approaches derived from consolidation studies; structures, attitudes and behavior expressed through 10 factors. In applying this framework on the case of Brazil, the research analyses quantitative data longitudinally (Brazil over time) and cross-sectionally (with... (More)
Abstract
Brazil was military dictatorship for decades, but turned democracy in 1985, and was an improving democracy for many years, while several other Latin American countries fell back into authoritarianism. However, since 2009 the democratic outlook has looked bleaker, and Brazil is steadily sliding back into autocracy. This study seeks to explain why Brazil suddenly started autocratization. The thesis operationalizes a theoretical framework of autocratization based on three approaches derived from consolidation studies; structures, attitudes and behavior expressed through 10 factors. In applying this framework on the case of Brazil, the research analyses quantitative data longitudinally (Brazil over time) and cross-sectionally (with similar neighboring countries). The findings are then triangulated with qualitative scholarly comments and assesses the explanatory value for each factor.
Based on the findings in the analysis, this thesis argues that Brazil´s autocratization is dependent, on a string of structural factors; Poor economic performance and high-levels of corruption that have, very likely, produced low pro-democracy sentiment in the population and high levels of violence, that is not observable in neighboring countries.
The findings also indicate that several factors promoted in the field are not applicable to this case, such as institutional constraints and election-rejection/fraud syndrome. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Krusell Krarup, Malthe LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVK02 20201
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Democratization, Brazil, Democratic Backsliding, Latin America & Autocratization
language
English
id
9009692
date added to LUP
2020-09-21 15:45:22
date last changed
2020-09-21 15:45:22
@misc{9009692,
  abstract     = {{Abstract
Brazil was military dictatorship for decades, but turned democracy in 1985, and was an improving democracy for many years, while several other Latin American countries fell back into authoritarianism. However, since 2009 the democratic outlook has looked bleaker, and Brazil is steadily sliding back into autocracy. This study seeks to explain why Brazil suddenly started autocratization. The thesis operationalizes a theoretical framework of autocratization based on three approaches derived from consolidation studies; structures, attitudes and behavior expressed through 10 factors. In applying this framework on the case of Brazil, the research analyses quantitative data longitudinally (Brazil over time) and cross-sectionally (with similar neighboring countries). The findings are then triangulated with qualitative scholarly comments and assesses the explanatory value for each factor.
Based on the findings in the analysis, this thesis argues that Brazil´s autocratization is dependent, on a string of structural factors; Poor economic performance and high-levels of corruption that have, very likely, produced low pro-democracy sentiment in the population and high levels of violence, that is not observable in neighboring countries. 
The findings also indicate that several factors promoted in the field are not applicable to this case, such as institutional constraints and election-rejection/fraud syndrome.}},
  author       = {{Krusell Krarup, Malthe}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Autocratization in Brazil}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}