Como o Brasil virou à direita? Análise de como a direita ascendeu no contexto da política brasileira recente (1988-2018)

Abstract

The present study analyzes the historical conditions that favored the political shift to the right in Brazil and the significant electoral performance of conservative forces in the 2018 General Elections. Based on bibliographic and documentary research, academic publications, institutional reports, and journalistic material from the period between 2014 and 2025 were reviewed, along with official TSE data and public opinion surveys. The analysis integrates economic dimensions (recession and reforms), institutional ones (Operation Lava Jato and the 2016 Impeachment), communicational aspects (the intensive use of social media and the circulation of disinformation, or “fake news”), and social factors (mobilization of right-wing movements, influence of evangelical leaders, and support from military sectors). The results indicate that the victory of right-wing candidates in 2018 did not stem from a single historical factor but rather from the confluence and interaction of multiple configurational elements, such as the weariness with previous governments, a moralizing anti-corruption narrative, party system reconfiguration, and digital mobilization strategies, in line with global conservative trends. It is concluded that the shift in the correlation of political forces was structured and multi-conditional, posing challenges to the quality of public debate and to democratic governance. Given the relevance of this discussion, the study highlights the need for future research that conducts empirical investigations into the impact of disinformation on recent Brazilian politics, as well as comparative studies between Brazil’s current political reality and that of other countries undergoing similar experiences.