Bolsonarism () is an ideology or the political movement tied to Jair Bolsonaro. His views, policies, and supporters are variously described as neo-fascist or far-right populism by scholars and news outlets,; ; ; although Bolsonaro denied that he is a fascist, and some analysts disagree with such labelling. Bolsonarism broke out in Brazil with the rise in popularity of Bolsonaro, especially during his campaign in the presidential election in 2018, which elected him as president. The Workers' Party (PT) crisis during the Dilma Rousseff government, precipitated and accelerated by the political-economic crisis of 2014, strengthened Bolsonarist ideology and the Brazilian new right, which are part of the context of the rise of New Right populism at an international level.
In politics, figures from Bolsonarism, such as Bolsonaro's son Eduardo Bolsonaro, have sought to attract punishments and international sanctions for Brazil in order to free Bolsonaro from being legally judged according to Brazilian laws, which has triggered a US tariff on the country. Likewise, pro-Bolsonaro deputies, with the support of parties such as União Brasil, PP, and Novo, tried to block, intimidate, destabilize, and impede the functioning of the legal entities of the legislature (Senate and Congress) as a form of blackmail for their objectives, such as making it difficult to vote on government projects that benefit workers (such as the exemption from income tax) and trying to free Jair Bolsonaro and those involved in the coup attempt and extremists from the January 8 attacks. Bolsonaro supporters have also repeatedly threatened to kill Brazilian authorities and politicians.
Ideology Bolsonarism was the predominant ideology of the Bolsonaro government and, according to its critics, is associated with rhetoric defending the family, patriotism, conservatism, anti-communism, scientific denialism, carrying weapons, and aversion to the political left, as well as the cult of the figure of Bolsonaro, often called a "myth".: [""Myth" means childishly mixing reality and imagination. Being outside of history but, at the same time, having the powers to intervene in it. Losing the notion of humanity when calling for a superman capable of solving everything seen as a "problem". The myth is a delusional cry in the name of the elimination of the other and if perhaps the tragedy of death emerges on the horizon of life and historical time reclaims its rights, the right will always be able to find the excuse that it did not imagine that things would happen in such a way as to how the left would have done much worse. In short, the myth is the impeccable alibi of authoritarianism."]; ; Writer Olavo de Carvalho is often cited as having been the "guru" of the Bolsonarist ideology.
Although Bolsonaro defined his government as "free from ideological constraints", and did not recognize Bolsonarism as an ideology, his supporters – pejoratively called "Bolsominions" – diverge between those who agree with Bolsonaro and those who use the term to express their political position.
Bolsonaro through his political career has opposed human rights and minority rights in Brazil,; ; and under his presidency human and minority rights were increasingly targeted by government policies.; ;
While being against "globalism", Bolsonaro sought to work with various other neo-fascist, far-right, and authoritarian political parties, groups, and strategists to combat left wing politics across central and south America. Efforts towards this goal included helping to set up the Madrid Forum.
Anti-Workers' Party and anti-communism Being against and hostility towards the Workers' Party constituted a large part of rhetoric from Bolsonaro and among his supporters. Bolsonaro combined this anti-Workers' Party rhetoric with anti-communist sentiment, using the Workers' Party membership in the São Paulo Forum as a line of attack, with him describing the São Paulo Forum as "a political group with a left-wing communist ideology, led by Lula and Fidel Castro".
Bolsonaro adopted the motto of "" during his campaign for the Brazilian presidency, which had been used by his supporters since 2015. During Bolsonaro's inauguration he said to the crowd of people that Brazil had begun to "liberate itself from socialism". During his presidency he sought to dismantle organisations that he referred to as "dens of leftism", such as the public health research foundation Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. Bolsonarists would also label any criticism of Bolsonaro as coming from such "dens". Vocal supporters of Bolsonaro from his political party, such as Coronel Fernanda, have since Bolsonaro's election introduced bills seeking to criminalise support for communism in Brazil. The prominence of the slogan led Pablo López Guelli to title his documentary about the control of Brazilian media and subsequent distrust of the media, after the slogan.
Attacks Some of his supporters, in the name of Bolsonaro or based on his right-wing ideas, have carried out several riots and have been involved in political violence, such as the 2023 Brazilian Congress attack against the election of the left-wing candidate for the presidency, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
See also Brazilian integralism Conservatism in Brazil Fascism in Brazil Military dictatorship in Brazil
Similar ideologies Chavismo Dutertismo Fujimorism Kirchnerism Lulism Pinochetism Trumpism
References
Works cited
Further reading