Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world both in terms of size and population. It is also the largest economy in South America. For such a large and strategically important country given its recent conversion to a democratic political system in Latin America, it is astounding that the recent protests enveloping Brazil are so profoundly misunderstood. The reason for this misunderstanding is partially a skew introduced to political discourse by the media and partially as a result of our internal biases as Americans.
Protests across Brazil began on Friday, when word of a massive corruption scandal implicated countless politicians all the way to the top of the ladder. Even Brazilian ex-President Lula da Silva, who was adored by the masses during and after his terms in office, has been linked to money laundering. The Brazilian state-owned oil company Petrobras has been linked to government bid-rigging and bribery. These revelations, combined with a struggling economy, high inequality and the threat from Zika, have morphed into protests that manifested themselves on the streets of Brazil.
The interesting thing, however, is the manner in which the scandal was framed by news media both in and out of Brazil. Headlines include “Brazil Braces for Massive Protests Against President” from the Wall Street Journal, “With Rousseff’s Survival in Doubt, Eyes Turn to Brazil Protests” from Bloomberg and “A Ploy Involving Two of Brazil’s Presidents ignites Popular Fury” from the Washington Post. Brazil’s own OGlobo translates roughly to “Protests against Dilma gather 3.6 million in all states.” The article itself said the protesters were calling for “impeachment and end of corruption.”
All of these narratives are framed the same way, implying that Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and her predecessor, along with the larger Workers’ Party, are corrupt and have lost their mandate to rule so they must go.
What many American and Brazilian news outlets failed to cover was the racial and class divisions that defined these protests. The broader media presented the story as one in which the people want Rousseff gone and the Workers’ Party out of power. This is grossly misinformed because the protesters, particularly in Rio de Janeiro, have been characterized as largely white, middle class citizens who have always leaned away from the Workers’ Party. The protestors are the Brazilian rich and they have always resisted the Workers’ Party, Lula and Rousseff for their support of social programs, support of the poor and condemnation of Brazil’s immense inequality.
The rich and white of Brazil have always voted against the Workers’ Party and have controlled, through ownership, the country’s media. These demonstrations have the power of millions behind them but the forgotten voices are of those not protesting. The 51.4 percent of voters who sided with Rousseff and the workers don’t protest because their alternative is a government that is led by a party also tied to corruption, with none of the advocacy for the poor that is a feature of the Workers’ Party.
Indeed, these protests cannot be described as democratic in any way. They are rich, white Brazilians using their control over wealth and corporations across Brazil, including the media, to overthrow the results of the legitimate election that occurred just two years ago by attempting to frame their “revolution” as of the people. We, as Americans, are playing into their hands by believing the protesters have any kind of majority support. We are inclined to believe in the corruption of long standing party leaders and the validity of mass protests but our initial response is not good enough and does not reveal the whole truth. American commentators must think more deeply and look more closely at this issue instead of making judgments based on headlines.
Sawan Patel is an Opinion columnist for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at s.patel@cavalierdaily.com.
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