Bolsonaro: Trump of the Tropics? Dr Deborah Barros Leal Farias
Channel: Australian Institute of International Affairs
Date: 16/07/2020

Dr Deborah Barros Leal Farias, UNSW Sydney.

Jair Bolsonaro took office as president of Brazil on January 1st, 2019. Since then, his presidency has generated high levels of controversy and polarisation – even by the country's own standards.

He has frequently been compared to US President Donald Trump, due to their styles of communication, worldview, and populist approach to politics in general.

As Brazil’s COVID-19 death toll rises to become the world’s second-highest, how is Bolsonaro handling the crisis? And how has the health emergency reduced environmental authorities' capacity to police deforestation in the Amazon, another issue of global concern? Is Brazilian democracy itself under threat?

Deborah Barros Leal Farias is Lecturer of Politics and International Relations at UNSW's School of Social Sciences. Prior to Australia, she spent 10 years in Canada, obtaining a PhD in Political Science (UBC) and working as a Trade Analyst in the Consulate General of Brazil in Vancouver. Since 2000, she has worked as a policy analyst and lectured at various universities in Brazil and Canada. She has a bachelor degree in Economy, another in Law, and an MA in International Relations – all from Brazilian institutions. Her main areas of interest involve developing and rising powers – particularly Brazil.