Robert Muggah: Bolsonaro and Brazilian Populism

Robert Muggah joins us this week on Rule of Law Talk to discuss the state of the rule of law in Brazil and the impact of the recent election of Jair Bolsonaro.

Populism is on the rise. From North America to Eastern Europe to East Asia and the Pacific, populist parties are gaining prominence and winning power, in many cases posing significant challenges to democratic institutions and the rule of law in the process.   

Recently, Latin America has seen its own shift toward populism, with the election of Jair Bolsonaro highlighting this trend. The right-wing president-elect has divided Brazilian public opinion with his controversial comments and policy proposals. Robert Muggah joins WJP Director of Engagement Joel Martinez for a Rule of Law Talk conversation about Bolsonaro, populism, and the rule of law in Brazil.

Robert Muggah specializes in cities, security, migration and new technologies. He co-founded the Igarapé Institute, a think and do tank based in Brazil devoted to working on data-driven safety and justice in the Latin America and Africa. He also co-founded the SecDev Group, focused on cyber-security and digital risk in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. He is a frequent contributor to the Atlantic, BBC, CNN, and Foreign Affairs, among others, and received his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Oxford.