A Democracia Brasileira em Retrospectiva: Avanços e Contradições de Quatro Décadas
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36704/rhp.v3i6.9846Keywords:
democracia, ditadura civil-militarAbstract
This critical review analyzes Alberto Aggio's book "The Construction of Democracy in Brazil, 1985-2025: Changes, metamorphoses, transformisms." Aggio, a historian educated at the University of São Paulo (USP) and São Paulo State University (UNESP), examines the four decades of Brazilian redemocratization from Tancredo Neves' election to the current political landscape.
The review highlights Aggio's application of Gramscian theoretical perspective, particularly the concept of "passive revolution," to interpret Brazil's democratic trajectory as a transformation process characterized by elements of both continuity and change, rather than a radical rupture. This theoretical framework enables a nuanced understanding of the country's democratic consolidation.
A central paradox identified in the review is the tension between Brazilian democracy's institutional resilience (having withstood two impeachment processes and an attempted coup) and its representative fragility, evidenced by the growing disconnect between political parties and society. The review emphasizes Aggio's critique of political parties that have become "oligarchic and rigid," generating popular distrust in democratic institutions.
The analysis further stresses how the persistence of social inequality constitutes, according to Aggio, a fundamental obstacle to democratic quality in Brazil. The review identifies certain limitations in the work, questioning whether the Gramscian approach excessively privileges institutional aspects at the expense of substantive dimensions of political participation.
In conclusion, the review acknowledges the book's significant contribution to understanding contemporary Brazilian democracy, considering it essential reading for researchers and those interested in Brazil's recent political history.
References
AGGIO, Alberto. A Construção da Democracia no Brasil, 1985-2025: Mudanças, metamorfoses, transformismos. São Paulo: Annablume; Fundação Astrojildo Pereira, 2025. 232 p.
