In this paper, I will argue that there has been a "corruption culture" that has been accepted as the "norm" within the fabric of Brazilian society. I will argue that the mentality of "Rouba mas faz" ("he or she steals, but get things done") and the political structure have sustained this "culture". I will also argue that there has been a recent switch on tolerating corruption in the past five years. And that the recession, increases in investigations, general visibility and bad governance have threatened the sustainability of the corruption culture. My primary case will be Operation Car Wash, with the Mensalão scandal and former President Collor’s impeachment as secondary cases.
Brazil was once synonymous with economic growth and potential, all factors pointing at global powerhouse potential. It is a country abundant with natural resources, with the 8th largest economy, largest country in the region, 6th most populous in the world, and part of the BRICS bloc. The recent years have set Brazil back, from entering into a recession dubbed the worse of its history to civil society protesting in the millions to impeaching its sitting president to most notably of all— entering and still in progress of a corruption scandal, classified as one of the largest corruption scandals in modern history.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Argument
Political Landscape of Brazil
Political Structure
Economic Development from the Real Plan of 1994 to 2013
Economic History of Boom to Bust
The Real Plan of 1994
Commodities Boom of 2000’s and Bolsa Familia
End of Commodities Boom and Economic Actions of 2010’s
Protests of mid-2013
Lingering Effects of Bolsa Familia on the 2013 Protests
Height of the 2013 Protests
Effect of Mensalão on the Protests
Increased Transparency and Communication
A Break in Protests
Organized Crime Law of 2013
Increased Transparency from the Government
Conclusion
References
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the underlying factors that have sustained a culture of corruption within Brazilian society, specifically focusing on the intersection of public political mentality and institutional structures. The central research question investigates how the "Rouba mas faz" ("he or she steals, but gets things done") mindset and a lack of political accountability facilitated systemic corruption, and how recent economic shifts, social protests, and increased transparency have challenged this long-standing status quo.
- The influence of the "Rouba mas faz" mentality on voter behavior and political support.
- Institutional weaknesses in the Brazilian political structure and the lack of accountability.
- The impact of economic history, from the Real Plan to the commodities boom and subsequent recession.
- The role of the 2013 protests as a catalyst for changing public discourse and institutional reform.
- The significance of the Organized Crime Law of 2013 and Operation Car Wash (Lava Jato) in exposing systemic corruption.
Excerpt from the Book
‘Rouba mas faz’ Mentality
There are two studies that have explored this term “Rouba mas faz”. Pereira found that voters are more likely to vote for corrupt politicians when public goods are provided, rather than private goods in exchange for their vote (Pereira 2015). These public goods – mostly in the form of infrastructure, such as the building of new schools or hospitals – reflect positively on the reputation of politicians. Voters directly know that a portion of public spending had been spent on them, undermining any charges of corruption that had or will be presented to the voting public (Pereira 2015).
This can be seen through the case of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, commonly referred to as Lula, and his numerous scandals throughout his administration. The most notable was the Mensalão scandal, a bribery scheme in 2005 which members of the Worker’s Party (Lula’s party) was paying members of congress for their vote to support the president’s agenda (Spalding 2017). His social spending on Bolsa Familia, a program which brought millions out of poverty, gave a clear indication to the voting public that spending was being spent on them directly. Despite the corruption scandal, he was reelected in 2006 and Dilma Rouseff—who was handpicked by Lula and of the Worker’s Party— in 2010, and had high approval ratings even up until his conviction during Lava Jato. He was convicted in the Lava Jato scandal in late July 2017. He is still running for president in 2018, since he can still legally run while his appeal is still in progress, and as of October 2017 is a frontrunner in the election (Apler 2017).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides an overview of Brazil's transition from a rising economic power to a nation grappling with a massive corruption scandal known as Operation Car Wash.
Argument: Outlines the thesis that a "corruption culture" has been sustained by a specific voter mentality and structural flaws in the Brazilian political system.
Political Landscape of Brazil: Explains the factors, including voter cynicism and political fragmentation, that allow corruption to persist.
Political Structure: Discusses the lack of institutional accountability and the difficulty of holding politicians responsible for their actions.
Economic Development from the Real Plan of 1994 to 2013: Analyzes the economic policies that shaped Brazil's recent history and contributed to public unrest.
Economic History of Boom to Bust: Reviews the cycle of economic instability and the reliance on stabilization plans like the Real Plan.
The Real Plan of 1994: Examines the implementation and lack of subsequent reform of the Real Plan.
Commodities Boom of 2000’s and Bolsa Familia: Describes the economic growth driven by the commodities boom and the impact of the Bolsa Familia program on poverty reduction.
End of Commodities Boom and Economic Actions of 2010’s: Details how slowing Chinese growth and economic challenges prompted unconventional government interventions.
Protests of mid-2013: Explores the origins and massive scale of the 2013 civil society protests.
Lingering Effects of Bolsa Familia on the 2013 Protests: Analyzes how an emerging middle-class, empowered by social programs, began demanding better governance.
Height of the 2013 Protests: Recounts the escalation of protests and the public backlash against police violence.
Effect of Mensalão on the Protests: Discusses how the highly publicized Mensalão trial fueled public anger regarding corruption.
Increased Transparency and Communication: Highlights the role of social media and technology in mobilizing citizens and spreading information about government corruption.
A Break in Protests: Describes the government's attempt to quell unrest and the subsequent shift in political focus.
Organized Crime Law of 2013: Explains how new legislation intended to fight organized crime unintentionally provided tools to uncover the Lava Jato scandal.
Increased Transparency from the Government: Discusses new anti-corruption transparency measures and their impact on public trust.
Conclusion: Summarizes the transformation of the Brazilian political environment and the uncertain future of anti-corruption efforts.
Keywords
Brazil, Corruption, Operation Car Wash, Lava Jato, Bolsa Familia, Real Plan, Politics, Political Structure, Accountability, 2013 Protests, Transparency, Economy, Mensalão, Democracy, Public Policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this paper?
The paper examines the socio-political factors that have allowed a "culture of corruption" to persist in Brazil, analyzing how voter mentality and political structures have historically enabled this environment.
What are the key thematic areas covered?
The themes include the "Rouba mas faz" mentality, the impact of economic policies such as the Real Plan and Bolsa Familia, the significance of the 2013 protests, and the role of anti-corruption legislation.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine why corruption remained a systemic norm in Brazil and to identify the specific shifts—economic, social, and legal—that have begun to challenge its sustainability.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The work employs a case study analysis, utilizing academic research, media reports, and public opinion data to analyze political and economic trends in Brazil.
What is the core content of the main chapters?
The chapters detail the evolution of Brazilian economic policies, the anatomy of political corruption, and the catalytic effect of the 2013 civil unrest on institutional transparency.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Brazil, Corruption, Operation Car Wash (Lava Jato), Political Structure, Accountability, and Transparency.
How did the Bolsa Familia program affect the 2013 protests?
The program elevated millions into the middle class, which inadvertently led to a citizenry that had higher expectations of their government regarding public services and transparency, fueling the 2013 protests.
What role did the Organized Crime Law of 2013 play in the corruption investigation?
While originally designed to combat organized crime, its inclusion of plea bargaining provisions provided the legal tools necessary for investigators to uncover the widespread Petrobras corruption scandal.
- Citar trabajo
- Debora Aberastury (Autor), 2018, Corruption and the federative republic of Brazil. What factors have sustained the corruption culture and what has changed?, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/913182
