Will Brazil’s ‘Prosecutocracy’ Transform Brazil for the Better?

Posted on June 12, 2016September 9, 2019 by gregmichener

Will any good come of Brazil’s new prosecutocracy? All are amazed at how Brazil’s Federal Police, Public Prosecutors, and Courts continue to arraign high-level politicians and private sector accomplices on charges of corruption. We are witnessing an extraordinary and unprecedented application of the rule of law, quite unlike anywhere else. Do not be fooled, however; Read more about Will Brazil’s ‘Prosecutocracy’ Transform Brazil for the Better?[…]

Corruption by Design – The Forgotten R$19 Billion

Posted on May 3, 2016September 9, 2019 by gregmichener

The Car Wash Investigations are sexy. After all, they tell the story of Brazil and Petrobras’ parallel rise and fall, from Petrobras’ discovery of pre-salt oil, which made it one of the world’s most capitalized companies, to massive waste and corruption, which have rendered the company among the world’s most indebted. The Zealot (Zelotes) Investigations Read more about Corruption by Design – The Forgotten R$19 Billion[…]

Non-Responses to Citizen Demands – Congress and The Media

Posted on April 27, 2016September 9, 2019 by gregmichener

Chanelling Demands Crisis can be a key catalyst for reform, but all depends on the ability to effectively channel citizen demands and the responsiveness of key political actors. The Channel is clear – the “popular initiative” (Art.62 of the 1988 Constitution), which requires signatures by 1% of the electorate (1.34 million citizens) spread across at least 5 Read more about Non-Responses to Citizen Demands – Congress and The Media[…]

Proposals to Root-Out Political Corruption in Brazil

Posted on April 26, 2016September 9, 2019 by gregmichener

As I have opined in previous posts, a) the party and electoral system is the key to understanding political corruption in Brazil; and, b) the media has been loathe to provide salience to any concrete proposals for reform, especially among civil society advocates. Simply put, Brazil’s fragmented party system, giant districts, and open-list competition produces hearty profits for the Read more about Proposals to Root-Out Political Corruption in Brazil[…]

It’s the Party System. What To Do about It.

Posted on April 7, 2016September 9, 2019 by gregmichener

The irony of Brazil’s political system is that its fragmented party system – so seemingly appropriate for countering historical legacies of patrimonialism and monopoly power – has provoked forms of neopatrimonialism, whereby state resources are used to buy the support of other politicians. What can be done to fix Brazilian politics? As I wrote last post, it’s the party Read more about It’s the Party System. What To Do about It.[…]

Mensalão + Car Wash = It’s the Party System, Stupid.

Posted on March 31, 2016September 9, 2019 by gregmichener

It is safe to say that the problem with Brazil’s government is not its choice of coalition partners, but rather the lack of choice. Faced with a governing coalition in disintegration, Rousseff has given larger pieces of the state pie to several of Brazil’s many rent-seeking parties. One of them, the Partido Progresista (PP), has been Read more about Mensalão + Car Wash = It’s the Party System, Stupid.[…]

Brazil’s Anti-Corruption Showdown

Posted on March 30, 2016September 9, 2019 by gregmichener

With impeachment little less than imminent, the question is whether a new government will strengthen or weaken the legislative tool-box of corruption-blasting policies I wrote about yesterday. Given the PMDB’s involvement in corruption allegations and its amorphous policy principles and democratic history, it is not surprising to read that PMDB leaders in Congress are supporting Read more about Brazil’s Anti-Corruption Showdown[…]

Long Last the Legal Legacy of Rousseff

Posted on March 29, 2016September 9, 2019 by gregmichener

Political scientist Carlos Pereira and I have been patiently waiting for our article on the Mensalão corruption scandal to come out in the Journal of Latin American Studies. I am particularly anxious because we establish the contours of an argument surrounding the accountability and transparency advances made during the Rousseff administration. This argument follows in Read more about Long Last the Legal Legacy of Rousseff[…]

Colluding Against Brazil’s Criminal Justice System? Good Luck.

Posted on March 22, 2016September 9, 2019 by gregmichener

The Minister of Justice, Eduardo Cardozo, resigned about a month ago, buffeted by pressures to reel-in the Federal Police. No one doubts what these pressures are about – the ferocious prosecution of the Car Wash (Lava Jato) investigation. Now the government is apparently looking to replace the director general of the Federal Police, who is Read more about Colluding Against Brazil’s Criminal Justice System? Good Luck.[…]

The Failure of Counter-Majoritarianism in Brazil’s (Evolving) Legal Order

Posted on March 18, 2016September 9, 2019 by gregmichener

Law has failed Brazil in a moment of decisiveness. Brazil’s judiciary, like any other, is a counter-majoritarian institution – the last check on the mercurial majorities represented by parliaments and presidents. Yet this basic premise has been lost to frenzied majoritarianism. Yesterday, the prosecuting judge behind the ‘Car Wash’ scandal, Sergio Moro, acted in a Read more about The Failure of Counter-Majoritarianism in Brazil’s (Evolving) Legal Order[…]