The historical mutations of antipetism and the Bolsonaro phenomenon

Abstract

This paper reflects on Jair Bolsonaro’s electoral ascent in Brazil, developing an argument on the mutations in antipetismo –or the rejection of the Workers’ Party (PT)- between the presidential election of 1989 and the electoral campaign of 2018. We present three historical “moments” that have characterized antipetismo, with their respective prevalent elements, intensities and the milestones of those transformations. The periodization and reflections I propose here on antipetism are nurtured by a revision of existing literature (in social and political science) regarding these historical processes; by the qualitative analysis of TV electoral campaigns (HGPE); and also by the preliminary exploration of the behaviour of Bolsonaro’s followers in his Facebook profile during the electoral process in 2018.