What Brazil’s Political Convulsions Reveal About the Global Far-Right
If there is one thing that the last decade ought to have taught us, it is that strong objective factors do not automatically translate into powerful movements, let alone into the spontaneous discovery of the correct line by the masses.
Brazil's political turmoil highlights the stark realities underlying the global far-right movement. Despite strong objective factors, these do not necessarily result in powerful movements or spontaneous societal shifts. The resilience of far-right discourse and neoliberalism post-2008 can be attributed to the existence of anti-systemic sentiments among those feeling marginalized and neglected by the current economic and political system.
The denial of these issues is a significant barrier to effectively combating the far-right message. Discipline has intensified, even as the normative claims supporting it have become more questionable. This has been exacerbated by the concentration of political power and the erosion of social control over fiscal and monetary policy.
Neoliberalism's disciplinary mechanisms, such as labor precarity, reduced social protections, and private debt, have been intensified through austerity measures and the digitization of the economy. These mechanisms reinforce the myth of neoliberalism as the rational cure for past excesses, further entrenching its status as the dominant ideology.
The pandemic has further highlighted the stark reality of declining expectations, as seen in the rhetoric of leaders prioritizing the economy over the well-being of individuals. This reflects the inherent asymmetry in neoliberalism: while it promises the greatest benefit at the lowest cost, the cost is invariably zero. This has led to a reprogramming of subjectivity, where sacrifice is viewed as an end in itself rather than a means to an end.
Addressing the root causes of these sentiments and breaking the cycle of neoliberal discipline is crucial for countering the far-right narrative and fostering genuine societal change.
Written by urgent.news from Literary Hub's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
