Backed by Brazil's wealthy agribusiness groups, a growing evangelical movement, and an emboldened military and police force, Jair Bolsonaro took office in 2019. Driven by the former army captain's brand of controversial, aggressive rhetoric, the divisive presidential campaign saw fake news and misinformation shared with Bolsonaro's tens of millions of social media followers.
Bolsonaro promised simple solutions to Brazil's rising violent crime, falling living standards and widespread corruption, but what has emerged is Latin America's most right-wing president since the military dictatorships of the 1970s. Famous for his racist, homophobic and sexist beliefs and his disregard for human rights, the so-called 'Trump of the Tropics' has established a reputation based on his polemical, sensationalist statements.
Written by a journalist with decades of experience in the field, Beef, Bible and bullets is a compelling account of the origins of Brazil's unique brand of right-wing populism. Lapper offers the first major assessment of the Bolsonaro government and the growing tensions between extremist and moderate conservatives. -- .
Beef, Bible and Bullets : Brazil in the Age of Bolsonaro
Description
Table of Contents
Introduction
1 The outsider
2 Coming in from the cold
3 The magic moment
4 Dilma Rousseff and the rocky road to recession
5 The foundations begin to shake
6 A political implosion
7 Fear and loathing in the favelas
8 From utopia to dystopia
9 And God told me to vote for Bolsonaro
10 "Environment, environment, it's a joke..."
11 The Amazon is burning
12 Tilting at windmills
13 A president under pressure
14 An unexpected bonanza
List of abbreviations
Acknowledgements
Notes
Index -- .
Author Description
Richard Lapper is a writer and consultant who specialises in Latin America. He worked for the Financial Times for twenty-five years, occupying the post of Latin America editor between 1998 and 2008, and is an Associated Fellow of Chatham House. -- .