A lot has changed in Brazil in just over 20 years. Everyone has strong – but not always grounded – opinions about what happened here in the early decades of the century.
To evaluate with rigor and method how the ways of thinking and compatriots values between 2002 and 2202 changed, political scientist Alberto Carlos Almeida replied his encouragement in the year when the PSDB lost the Planalto Palace to the PT.
The results are in the newly published book “The head of Brazilians, twenty years later: what has changed”. In addition to the introduction and conclusion signed by Almeida, the work contains chapters written by project collaborators. The interviewees wondered on topics always present in the public discussion: religion, color and race; respect for the law; Gender relations; policy; Economic liberalism and public security. I highlight some especially important conclusions for political debate.
From the outset, almost all Brazilians continue to believe, as 20 years ago, that God guides their steps. Today, as in the past, religion is a fundamental dimension of their lives.
On the other hand, the contingent of citizens capable of being in the political spectrum has decreased. In the group that achieved it, it was significant the reduction of those who placed themselves to the center; Those who were located on the left and right grew. Leftist self -proclaimed are today 29% of the population and the rightists 43%; The centrists waned from 39% to 28%.
However, the increase of those who see each other as leftists or rightists has not expanded the distance between them with regard to substantive issues.
With small differences, both, besides centrists, are favorable that the state is responsible for public services and regulate the economy; And all are moderately liberal when it comes to opening the domestic market to foreign products.
In the political ground, the three groups differ with regard to freedom of manifestation, although they all have walked toward more restrictive positions. Brazilians are also lenients with patrimonialism and equally suspicious of people and institutions – that is, everything! To anyone’s surprise, the poll indicated that the punitivist positions in public safety have grown everywhere. However, racial discrimination and prejudice decreased in the three groups. Only a couple of issues opposed left and right: sexual freedom and
the right to.
Under the whole, the study describes an almost absence of polar positions between people who align themselves to the left or right. There is significant convergence around positions commonly classified as conservative, although important advances in reducing racial prejudice, and the acceptance of gender diversity.
Radicalization fueled by Bolsonaro and his followers do not seem to be explained by significant changes in Brazilians’ attitudes: it comes from above, intentionally promoted by far-right political leaders. It is not in the minds of Brazilians.
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