New research compares civil servant experiences under Trump in the US to those under Bolsonaro in Brazil

A recent comparative study examining civil servant reactions to democratic backsliding under U.S. President Trump and Brazilian President Bolsonaro found stark differences in the strategies employed. Conducted by Associate Professor Jaime L. Kucinskas of Hamilton College and Professor Mariana Costa Silveira of the University of São Paulo, the research surveyed nearly 150 career civil servants—66 from the U.S. and 82 from Brazil.

The findings, published in the International Review of Administrative Sciences, reveal that while both groups faced similar pressures, their responses were markedly distinct.

Brazilian civil servants were more inclined to engage in collective, open, and confrontational actions to resist democratic erosion, while their U.S. counterparts opted for more individualized and cautious approaches. The study highlights that supportive professional cultures, strong internal and external networks, and relationships with citizens and professional organizations played crucial roles in enabling civil servants to act courageously, particularly in contexts like environmental protection and Indigenous rights in Brazil.

In contrast, U.S. civil servants faced a more cautious professional culture and a strong commitment to nonpartisan responsiveness to a legitimately elected president, which curbed overt behavior even when standing up for public interest, agency missions, or democracy.

At an individual level, moral courage was linked to a commitment to agency missions, a sense of self-efficacy, long-term moral reflection, and civic engagement. The researchers conclude that the divergence in responses is shaped more by contextual factors such as organizational structures, cultures, and available support than by individual disposition or the pressures themselves. This cross-national comparative perspective offers valuable insights for future research on defending democratic norms under illiberal rule.