The world has been undergoing an accelerated process of democratic decline over the last decade. This phenomenon is also reflected in Brazil and has been pointed out since before the election of Jair Bolsonaro to the presidency in 2018.

Other countries that are also facing autocratization processes, such as Hungary, Poland, India and Turkey, have recently opted to re-elect (in some cases more than once) autocrats to the position of head of the executive branch, which has not happened in Brazil.

This book points out the set of actions of the Bolsonaro government that weakened Brazilian democracy, the strategies in common with other autocratic leaders and the possible ways of holding them accountable.

First, it shows how political science sees the subject of re-election and exposes the most relevant results of the main international observatories on the quality of political regimes. The book then outlines Brazil’s situation in this scenario. First, it provides a detailed mapping of the analyses already carried out on the Brazilian situation by international observatories, highlighting the changes between what was recorded by these institutes before and after Bolsonaro’s election. It then investigates the ways in which Bolsonaro’s authoritarianism operates during his four years in office.

The book also analyzes changes that have taken place in countries that live in authoritarian contexts similar to Brazil’s, in three specific areas: education, civic space and public safety.

It also looks at the main practices committed by Bolsonaro that could constitute crimes, in three main areas: common crimes, health crimes and electoral crimes. In this way, it outlines possible forms of accountability for the deepening democratic erosion in the country.

The aim is to provide as complete an overview as possible of the processes of autocratization in specific public policies, as well as the possible means of accountability for the illegalities practiced.

“The Path of Autocracy” is a book that invites readers to realize the multiple challenges that Brazilian democracy continues to face. The electoral defeat of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who led the greatest authoritarian threat in recent Brazilian history, does not end the task of defending democracy in the country.

Download the full book here (Portuguese only) .