The Faces of Authoritarianism and Strategies of Dissent in Contemporary Brazil

A powerful analysis of Brazil’s authoritarian resurgence and the dynamic strategies of dissent that redefined political resistance.

Faces of Authoritarianism and Strategies of Dissent in Contemporary Brazil dissects the Bolsonaro era as a critical moment in Brazil’s long history of democratic struggle, outlining how authoritarianism took shape and how it was challenged. Rather than viewing Bolsonaro’s presidency as an anomaly, this volume situates it within broader historical and political continuities and highlights the ways state and non-state actors alike engaged in battles over democracy’s meaning.

Interlacing interdisciplinary perspectives, the book explores key arenas of contestation, from institutions under siege to grassroots resistance, providing theoretical depth and rich ethnographic accounts. With a focus on repression and resistance and the shifting boundaries of democratic governance, Faces of Authoritarianism displays a crucial framework for understanding Brazil’s political landscape and its global implications. Required reading for scholars of authoritarianism, democracy, and Latin American politics, this book offers a nuanced view of how democratic backsliding is met with acts of defiance and negotiation.