As I write this, the progressive Lula (Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva) has very narrowly won the election for the Brazilian presidency, with the current right-wing President Bolsonaro losing. This is good news for the Amazon rainforest, and probably the poorer members of Brazilian society as they will benefit from small government income transfers. However, I am careful to call Lula progressive rather than left-wing. After being beaten three times by candidates of the elite in presidential elections, with the elite using all the tools available to it (state patrimony, the reactionary Evangelical and Catholic churches, the oligarch-owned media etc.) to win, Lula became a Blair-style progressive to get elected in 2002. He was re-elected for a second four-year term in 2006. With a massive global commodity boom driving Brazilian growth, Lula was able to use government revenues to fund income transfers to the poorer parts of Brazilian society, while at the same time being a very good neoliberal; just like Blair in the UK:
When the Economist endorsed Lula, I knew something was up. Then I learned about his--VP equivalent, I guess--running mate, who practically promised to deliver on IMF-style austerity.
I don't know what will happen in Brazil. All I know is that I don't want the US government interfering with Brazil, and that I seldom get what I want.
Thank you for this very insightful article. I have been following the election in Brazil rather closely. I am struck by how the whole 2020 US election seems like it was used as a template for Brazil 2022. Tropical Trump versus Brazilian Biden of Bernie if one wishes to be charitable to Senator Sheepdog Judas Goat.
When I hear the complaints of Bolsonaro supporters about the levels of violence, I understand their rejection of the PT and Lula. I realize that it's much more complex, but that is how I see it.
You mention US involvement in Car Wash. Is there any direct evidence? I have seen some of the Telegram messages and an itinerary of a meeting between US officials and Brazilian prosecutors which occurred in Curitiba in like May of 2015. I'm just curious if there is anything "juicier?"
I would add that Bolsonaro didn't make any friends with Big Pharma with his response to the 'rona. That is strike two with his refusal to dance the Washington Consensus regarding Russia.
I am getting confused by political terminologies in use these days. I do not know what a "Blair-style progressive" is. My simplistic view was that a 'progressive' was a politician willing to promote socialist policies, differentiated from Democrats who tended to promote neoliberal policies. Of course, no politician be entirely one thing, but the terms 'left' and 'right' still have meaning. I believe that in the Bolshevik Cominterm there were left and right factions. So, Lula is a leftist, progressive neoliberal?
When the Economist endorsed Lula, I knew something was up. Then I learned about his--VP equivalent, I guess--running mate, who practically promised to deliver on IMF-style austerity.
I don't know what will happen in Brazil. All I know is that I don't want the US government interfering with Brazil, and that I seldom get what I want.
Thank you for this very insightful article. I have been following the election in Brazil rather closely. I am struck by how the whole 2020 US election seems like it was used as a template for Brazil 2022. Tropical Trump versus Brazilian Biden of Bernie if one wishes to be charitable to Senator Sheepdog Judas Goat.
When I hear the complaints of Bolsonaro supporters about the levels of violence, I understand their rejection of the PT and Lula. I realize that it's much more complex, but that is how I see it.
You mention US involvement in Car Wash. Is there any direct evidence? I have seen some of the Telegram messages and an itinerary of a meeting between US officials and Brazilian prosecutors which occurred in Curitiba in like May of 2015. I'm just curious if there is anything "juicier?"
I would add that Bolsonaro didn't make any friends with Big Pharma with his response to the 'rona. That is strike two with his refusal to dance the Washington Consensus regarding Russia.
Thank you again!
I am getting confused by political terminologies in use these days. I do not know what a "Blair-style progressive" is. My simplistic view was that a 'progressive' was a politician willing to promote socialist policies, differentiated from Democrats who tended to promote neoliberal policies. Of course, no politician be entirely one thing, but the terms 'left' and 'right' still have meaning. I believe that in the Bolshevik Cominterm there were left and right factions. So, Lula is a leftist, progressive neoliberal?