The Historic Opportunities and Challenges for a Post-Bolsonaro Brazil

The Historic Opportunities and Challenges for a Post-Bolsonaro Brazil

Author: The Watson School November 23, 2022 Duration: 27:10

On October 30, 2022, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva – known by most simply as Lula – defeated Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro in a runoff election.

On Lula's agenda: rebuild Brazil’s social safety net, restore the country’s democratic institutions, and advocate for the country's most marginalized citizens -- oh, and save the Amazon rainforest. He'll have to do all of that while navigating a divided government, polarized public, and aggressive far-right opposition.

On this episode of Trending Globally Dan Richards explores this historic moment in Brazil with James Green, a historian and professor of Latin American history at the Watson Institute, and the host of the podcast Brazil Unfiltered

They discuss how Lula came to win, and what his victory means for Brazil and the world. They also look at why, contrary to what so many people predicted and feared, Brazil’s election went relatively smoothly. Because, as James makes clear: it easily could have not. 

 

Learn more about James Green’s podcast Brazil Unfiltered.

Find transcripts and more information about all our episodes on our website.

Learn more about the Watson Institute’s other podcasts. 


From the Watson School at Brown University, Trending Globally: Politics and Policy brings the insights of leading scholars and practitioners directly into your ears. This award-winning podcast digs into the complex forces shaping our world, moving beyond headlines to understand the deeper political and policy decisions behind them. Each conversation is designed to unpack a pressing issue-whether it's international trade tensions, public health crises, or social movements-with clarity and depth. You'll hear experts from the Watson Institute and beyond explain not just what's happening, but why it matters and how different policies might change the course of events. The discussions are grounded in rigorous research yet remain accessible, turning daunting global topics into understandable and engaging dialogue. For anyone curious about the mechanics of power, governance, and societal change, this series offers a vital resource. It’s a direct line to some of the sharpest minds in international and public affairs, all within a format that fits into your daily routine. Find Trending Globally: Politics and Policy and add it to your listening rotation for a consistently informative perspective on the stories that define our time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Trending Globally: Politics and Policy
Podcast Episodes
To understand Trump’s victory, look around the world [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:39
On November 5, Americans went to the polls and once again elected Donald Trump president of the United States. By this point, you probably know the broad strokes of his victory: He won every swing state and, unlike in 20…
Why is this election so close? The issues and voters driving 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:38
While no one knows how this November’s election is going to go in the U.S., there’s one thing most experts agree on: It’s likely going to be close. Very close. Poll after poll suggests that, especially in a few key state…
South Africa’s elections, 30 years after apartheid: part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:31
This is the second part in our two-part series on South Africa’s politics 30 years after the election of Nelson Mandela, and with it, the end of apartheid. Around the same time as that anniversary this past spring, there…
This summer’s UK and French elections explained, with Mark Blyth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:56
Over the course of 2024, roughly half of the world’s population will participate in national elections. On this episode, we take a closer look at two of them: this summer’s elections in the United Kingdom and France. In…
South Africa, 30 years after apartheid: part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:28
This spring marked the thirtieth anniversary of the election of Nelson Mandela as South Africa’s president and the end of apartheid, the system of legalized racial segregation that had existed in South Africa for decades…