Brazil’s people are crying out for change, so let’s seize the moment
Who would have thought that the Latin American spring would blossom in Brazil? In the past 10
years, the country has created a “new middle class” by bringing 40 million people to unprecedented
levels of income and consumption, and creating 19 million jobs in the midst of one of the worst
global financial crises. Why then do millions of young people feel so politically unrepresented that
[5] they have taken to the streets in such numbers?
Brazilian commentators have proffered many ∂ answers, some of universal import, others
specific to Brazil. The low level of confidence in representative institutions which are seen as
corrupt and undemocratic is one; the government’s willingness to back various mega sporting
events alongside its broken promises on the social state agenda (including health, education and
[10] public transport) is another; finally, the depoliticisation of a part of the Brazilian middle and upper-
middle class youth. These are people who have reaped the benefits of capitalist growth without
experiencing its side-effects of extreme inequality, poverty and despair. They have accepted the
rightwing, anti-state ideology and have turned it into the anti-political “no party” slogans constantly
heard in the protests.
[15] It would be too reductionist, however, to interpret the multitude in the streets as part of a rightwing
or neoliberal conspiracy. The colourful multiplicity of protests is not a prelude to a rightwing coup,
something from which Brazil has repeatedly suffered. The activists of the social movements as well
as the extremist rightwing groups are only a minority. The central meaning of the protests makes
them an integral part of the cycle of occupations all over the world since 2011. Diverse grievances,
[20] antagonistic hopes and conflicting narratives ground the protests, but they are also part of the new
age of resistance. Have we seen this film before? Definitely not.
The protests in Brazil express, in a specific and rich manner, the emerging fissure between the
standard conception of politics and the new politics of resistance. This gap had been bridged in
the past by the lethargic and technocratic formal politics or by identity politics. Could it be that we
[25] are now facing the opening of a new grammar of acting politically, broadcast live? Could protest,
resistance and rebellion be considered as a gesture towards what is essential but missing in formal
politics — the determination of those who fight for justice? The capture of the streets marks the
collective capacity to act and to create new political meanings. From now on, nothing will be the
same as before. Our problems have changed and new answers are in the air. This is what matters.
BETHANIA ASSY and BRUNO CAVA theguardian.com
In the second paragraph, there are three explanations for the dissatisfaction of the Brazilian protesters.
In order to provide those explanations, the authors use a textual strategy labelled:
