Former Presidents Decide on International Outsourcing of Brazil’s Government*

Posted on May 26, 2017September 9, 2019 by gregmichener

In discussion late last night at President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s Atibaia vacation propery, Brazil’s three living unimpeached presidents decided to pursue the international outsourcing of government in Brazil. “It has to be admitted, Brazilians have simply proven themselves unfit to govern the country,” said former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso (FHC). The plan, according to FHC, is Read more about Former Presidents Decide on International Outsourcing of Brazil’s Government*[…]

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.[…]

Movements Against Corruption Afoot in Brazil

Posted on September 6, 2011September 9, 2019 by gregmichener

The performance of Brazil’s Congress, and particularly the governing coalition makes one wonder whether the nation’s deliberative process should be moved somewhere else— far away from the alleged ‘representatives of the people.’ Congress is where the government’s coalition ‘allies’ select their robber baron cabinet ministers, the same ones that have been resigning one after the Read more about Movements Against Corruption Afoot in Brazil[…]

Why Don’t Brazilians React?

Posted on August 22, 2011September 9, 2019 by gregmichener

The Fateful Question of El País Correspondent Juan Arias Search for the question “por que os brasileiros não reagem?” (Why don’t Brazilians react?) or the phrase, “do Brazilians really not know how to react to hypocrisy and their leaders’ lack of ethics?” (“Será que os brasileiros não sabem reagir à hipocrisia e à falta de Read more about Why Don’t Brazilians React?[…]

Reviewing the New Brazilian President’s 1st Semester: Politics

Posted on July 15, 2011September 9, 2019 by gregmichener

This past Wednesday night Dilma Rousseff threw a cocktail party to celebrate the end of her government’s first semester and the beggining of the National Legislature’s mid July break. According to LatinNews.com, 17 of 38 ministers made an appearance, as did the Presidents of both Chambers of Congress and the Vice President. The event began Read more about Reviewing the New Brazilian President’s 1st Semester: Politics[…]

Why the Media Have Made the Palocci Scandal into a Crisis

Posted on June 6, 2011September 9, 2019 by gregmichener

Research shows that the news media’s issue-attention cycle tends to be short, averaging about three days for a major story. When it diverges from this norm, you can bet that the event is either truly sensational or else the media has a vested interest in it. In the case of the first major ‘crisis’ to Read more about Why the Media Have Made the Palocci Scandal into a Crisis[…]

Narrowing or Widening the Fountainhead of Corruption?

Posted on April 7, 2011September 9, 2019 by gregmichener

One of the oldest tenets of corruption theory is that election campaign contributions constitute the fountainhead of corruption in government. To repay that three million dollar contribution of BankX, elected candidate X proposes a bill to lower taxes on bank profits. Simple stuff. Conventional thinking is that if you eliminate this patron-client relationship by financing Read more about Narrowing or Widening the Fountainhead of Corruption?[…]

Considering the Diversion of Public Monies in Brazil -A Cool US$35 Billion for Starters

Posted on March 31, 2011September 9, 2019 by gregmichener

US$35 billion of public monies stolen. A colossal affront to the cities and country they work for? Yes. Preventable? Not yet. The most significant news item on the diversion of public monies I have seen in some time appeared in yesterday’s Globo as the lead opinion piece: “The Indicators Show Billions Stolen.” The article cites Read more about Considering the Diversion of Public Monies in Brazil -A Cool US$35 Billion for Starters[…]