The quality of Brazilian democratic institutions is directly linked to the values cultivated by society itself. This is the assessment of the political scientist and sociologist Rodrigo Prandoprofessor at Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, during participation in the “WW Especial” program, from CNN Brazilwhich debated the current institutional crisis in the country.
According to Prando, Institutions do not exist in the abstract nor do they operate in isolation from social reality. “Institutions are individuals and social groups that have a historical basis. They are in a given society”, he stated, remembering that they also play a fundamental role in the socialization of citizens.
When analyzing the , the sociologist highlighted that the Executive and Legislative branches, as they are elected, directly reflect the values and choices of the population. “The quality of democracy, to a large extent, and of institutions depends on the quality that society has in its values,” he said.
Prando also recalled research released during the , which highlighted a persistent contradiction in Brazilian political culture. He highlights that, although the majority of those interviewed stated that they considered the use of public positions for their own benefit to be wrong, almost everyone admitted that they would do the same if they were in the same position. For him, it is the “classic confusion between public and private”.
In the researcher’s assessment, it cannot be dissociated from the responsibility of the citizens themselves. “What is the participation of citizens in improving institutions?” he asked, reinforcing that they are not entities external to society, but part of it.
At the end of his analysis, Prando highlighted that the debate about power and authority needs to consider the national context. “We are talking about Brazil, not any other country”, he concluded.
WW Especial
Presented by William Waackthe program is shown on Sundays, at 10pm, on all platforms. CNN Brazil.
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*Published by Jorge Fernando Rodrigues
