Brasil

Élites políticas, electorado y perspectivas de la democracia en la década venidera

Abstract

This article seeks answers in relation to the refusal of the Brazilian political elites to introduce
socio-redistributive policies, and thereby calls into question the reasons for the increase in social
inequalities in a rich country such as Brazil. The analysis of these elites highlights the existence
of patronage style practices carried out by the State itself and in which the regional distribution of
elites has taken on special relevance since the 19th century. Over time, the increasingly complex
nature of Brazilian society has opened up the way for a certain degree of political change which
has brought with in the appearance of political organizations and associations, mainly in the
richest states such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Nevertheless, redistributive imbalances are
still maintained between the three Brazils. The second part of the study places these earlier
elements in relation to the educational level of the Brazilian electorate, in an analysis of the
possibilities existing for a renewal of élites and deep political change, as it seems we are to
witness the effective application of redistributive policies which may make it possible to improve
the living conditions of the majority of the Brazilian population.