Dr. Matthew Layton
Dr. Matthew Layton, Assistant Professor of Political Science, co-authored a Nov. 2 column for the Washington Post headlined “In Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro’s victory may mean further shifts in tolerance and moderation.”
…Is Brazil undergoing a seismic shift from historical tolerance and moderation? Will Brazilians adopt the harsher tone of their new leader when addressing political opponents, women, racial minorities and the LGBT community?
Brazil’s democratic and tolerant political culture had started to erode long before any political buzz about Bolsonaro’s potential candidacy. When this year’s campaign officially began in July, Brazilians had seen five years of stagnant or even negative economic growth, massive corruption investigations, divisive presidential elections, dueling protests and the impeachment of a sitting president. The 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, brief interludes, were largely forgotten — though the large public works associated with these events may have abetted corruption….
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