The Meaning of Lula’s Imprisonment

I have an article in Jacobin, discussing the narrow straits of Brazilian democracy (as per usual). The first part is my notes on the matter, reproduced below. The rest is a translation of a sharp and beautifully written analysis by Felipe Demier, originally published at Esquerda Online. This week, both sides of a polarized Brazil Continue reading The Meaning of Lula’s Imprisonment

Dirty hands, broken car wash: anti-corruption and the Brazilian crisis

As I’ve argued since the beginning of the year, the Lava Jato investigation is one of two things: either a limited initiative that stops after ensnaring its primary targets, or a thoroughgoing campaign-cum-crusade that ends up eviscerating the whole political class. It’s hard to decide which would be preferable. The one would be, effectively, a highly Continue reading Dirty hands, broken car wash: anti-corruption and the Brazilian crisis