Brazil Apart: 1964-2019

by Perry Anderson

Leading English-language account of the fall of Lula's Workers' Party and rise of Bolsonaro and the New Right

What does Brazil's lurch to the hard right under Jair Bolsonaro portend for Latin America's most populous society, and how has it come about?

Perry Anderson, foremost observer of the Brazilian scene in the English-speaking world, offers a matchless account of the country's recent political upheavals: after the dashed hopes of the Cardoso years, the soaring popularity of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; the parliamentary coup d'état against his successor, Dilma; and the sweeping election victory of Bolsonaro, backed by the Armed Forces and a youthful new right.

Always something of a world unto itself, under the Workers' Party, Brazil had bucked the global trend towards a tighter neoliberalism. With its lodestar, Lula, now behind bars, a weighing up of the PT's legacy, and of the contrasting Bolsonaro regime, is urgently needed.

Genres: History, Brazil, Politics, Nonfiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Perry Anderson is an English Marxist intellectual and historian. He is Professor of History and Sociology at UCLA and an editor of the New Left Review. He is the brother of historian Benedict Anderson.

He was an influence on the New Left. He bore the brunt of the disapproval of E.P. Thompson in the latter's The Poverty of Theory, in a controversy during the late 1970s over the scientific Marxism of Louis Althusser, and the use of history and theory in the politics of the Left. In the mid-1960s, Thompson wrote an essay for the annual Socialist Register that rejected Anderson's view of aristocratic dominance of Britain's historical trajectory, as well as Anderson's seeming preference for continental European theorists over radical British traditions and empiricism. Anderson delivered two responses to Thompson's polemics, first in an essay in New Left Review (January-February 1966) called "Socialism and Pseudo-Empiricism" and then in a more conciliatory yet ambitious overview, Arguments within English Marxism (1980).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perry_An...

Reviews

[Gabriel Avocado · Rating 5 out of 5]

holy shit so apparently perry anderson is benedict andersons brother? was i the only one who didnt know that?

anyway....i dont really trust the opinions of gringos on foreign countries, particularly my own, but anderson is fairly refreshing because not only does he genuinely appear to love brazil as a sort of second home, but he also engages with brazilian actors on their own level. he very much understands the current trends of the day because he is actively working with brazilian academics. and he doesnt carry that absolutely obnoxious faux-internationalist attitude most left academics adopt; by this i mean that anderson has nothing to prove to anyone because he isnt third world, so he doesnt pretend brazil is better or worse than it really is just to get attention from certain levels of the intelligencia. he isnt perfect obviously but there is very much a willingness to engage with brazil rather than projecting beliefs onto us.

what i find particularly interesting about this book is that it was written at different, key moments in brazilian history, offering a broad overview of the political landscape of the time. usually one reads history through the lens of a detached spectator looking back on events. anderson wrote these chapters first as articles for the monthly review, which were then compiled into a book. we get to see if his predictions were right or not (spoilers he was generally right about everything) and reading this in the twilight of 2019 makes everything feel that much more dire.

i think its rare to have such perspective and insight from gringos, mostly because brazil has always been a magnet for foreign shysters looking to make a quick buck writing on how exotic and strange we are (see: nearly every recent big name brazil watcher tweeting about how wacky bolsonaro is). anderson cares about us because this is also his home and its where his colleagues and friends live and its nice that we arent just animals in a zoo to observe. i think what also stands out is andersons lack of false optimism. at this present moment we cant be weighed down with delusions about the future and understanding the political landscape is important when moving forward.

all in all, i recommend this to non brazilians interested in having the past 40 years or so recounted to you. ive yet to read any foreign academic analysis of bolsonaro and id say anderson did a fantastic job on that part. check it out--its strange that such a large, populous, and somewhat influential country gets ignored so blatantly by foreigners and i think thats got to change.

[Gustavo Pitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

O livro é uma reunião de artigos do historiador inglês Perry Anderson, que foram escritos entre 1994 e 2019. Neles, o autor analisa cada um dos governos brasileiros desse período.

Anderson oferece uma visão aprofundada, com muitos detalhes e bastidores, da política brasileira pós-ditadura; além disso, ele nos surpreende com perspicazes (e assertivas) hipóteses e relações causais.

É realmente umas das melhores análises que li sobre o Brasil contemporâneo. Está a par e passo das teses do André Singer, o melhor crítico atual desse caos que estamos vivendo.

Pode surpreender o fato dele ser inglês e saber tanto sobre o Brasil, mas é porque ele esteve aqui na década de 60 e viaja pra cá desde a redemocratização. Foi amigo do Herzog, e é amigão do André Singer e do Roberto Schwarz.

Como bom marxista que é, a percepção do Perry Anderson sobre o país tem cunho estruturalista. Mas ele não fica só nisso. A leitura contextual dos governos FHC, Lula, Dilma e do primeiro ano Bolsonaro é perfeita.

Para exemplificar isso, cito a melhor passagem do livro:

"A colonização do governo Bolsonaro pelas Forças Armadas, cerca de cinquenta anos depois de um golpe do qual elas ainda se orgulham, confere a esse período de meio século da história brasileira a forma de uma parábola. Em 1964, os militares tomaram o poder para remover um presidente disposto demais, na visão deles, a aceitar mudanças radicais na ordem social. Em 2018, eles intervieram para garantir que um presidente ainda popular demais, na visão deles, após realizar mudanças bem menos radicais, não fosse reeleito, colocando no poder alguém que tivesse uma origem e um modo de pensar semelhante ao deles. A curva da parábola não precisa ser simétrica." p.178.

Para Anderson, a parábola será quase perfeita com a possível chegada de Mourao ao poder.

Detalhe: o historiador critica vários pontos do governo PT, e, também, ressalta de maneira inovadora a relação entre a Missão de Paz no Haiti e a militarização da política brasileira.

Nota 8.7

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

To combine the two most famous tropes about Brazil's standing in the world: the Colossus of the South, alas, is a country of the future, and always will be. A collection of LRB essays published over the years, starting with Cardoso’s inauguration in 94’ and ending with Bolsonaro in 19’ (with a coda written mid-summer 19’), Perry has a clear affinity for the country and in his magisterial, authoritative style—while naturally sympathetic—he is lucid and honest about Lula’s and PT’s failures, as well as convincing on the causes of the vicious reaction by the middle class which ultimately led to Jair.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential reading for anyone interested in recent Brazilian political history

this remarkably penetrating essay collection contains easily the most thorough and enlightening English-language analysis of Operation Car Wash/Lava Jato, and the events leading up to it, that I have ever encountered


This book is probably not for beginners to South American politics – the author assumes an in-depth knowledge of the major Brazilian political figures & political parties of the past 30+ years –

but if you already known these things, or you are willing to acquire this knowledge, I think you will find this book very rewarding

[Marginalia Σημειώσεις στο περιθώριο]

«Η άρνηση του Ζάιρ Μπολσονάρο να αναγνωρίσει τον κίνδυνο που συνιστά η πανδημία και η κινητοποίηση των οπαδών του ενάντια στα μέτρα περιορισμού έστρεψαν για μια ακόμη φορά τα φώτα της δημοσιότητας στη Βραζιλία και τον εκκεντρικό της πρόεδρο. Την ώρα που οι εκσκαφείς στο νεκροταφείο της Βίλα Φορμόσα στο Σάο Πάολο δούλευαν υπερωριακά εν αναμονή μιας δραματικής αύξησης των θυμάτων, ο Μπολσονάρο καθαίρεσε τον υπουργό υγείας της χώρας και επιδόθηκε σε μια άνευ προηγουμένου αντιπαράθεση με τους τοπικούς κυβερνήτες, οι οποίοι ζητούσαν την εφαρμογή μιας δέσμης ισχυρότερων μέτρων για την αντιμετώπιση της πανδημίας. Τέτοια ήταν η επιπολαιότητά του, ως προς τη διαχείριση της κρίσης, που στις αρχές Απριλίου διακινούνταν στο διαδίκτυο ακόμη και φήμες για βελούδινο πραξικόπημα από πλευράς των ενόπλων δυνάμεων προκειμένου να μην χαθεί ο έλεγχος της κατάστασης. Για τους επικριτές τους στις τάξεις της αντιπολίτευσης αλλά και κάποιους πραγματιστές στους κόλπους του δικού του στρατοπέδου, η σημερινή του αβελτηρία προβλημάτισε αλλά δεν εξέπληξε. Κατά την πολυετή σταδιοδρομία του στην πολιτική ο Μπολσονάρο έχει διακριθεί για την πλήρη ανικανότητά του να αρθρώσει σοβαρό και συνεπή λόγο πάνω σε φλέγοντα ζητήματα, ενώ έχει αλλάξει κομματικό φορέα περισσότερες από εννέα φορές. Το μόνο διαχρονικό του γνώρισμα είναι ο ανεπιτήδευτος και αντιδραστικός αυταρχισμός του. Θιασώτης της στρατιωτικής δικτατορίας, που κυβέρνησε την χώρα την περίοδο 1964–1985 και αποτυχημένος πραξικοπηματίας ο ίδιος, ο Βραζιλιάνος πρόεδρος έχει προκαλέσει πολλάκις σάλο με τα σεξιστικά, ρατσιστικά, ομοφοβικά και συνωμοσιολογικά του σχόλια. Γεγονός που μας φέρνει ευθύς αμέσως αντιμέτωπους με τα ακόλουθα ερωτήματα.» (Άγγελος Κοντογιάννης-Μάνδρος, Beatriz Santos)

Ολόκληρη η κριτική των Άγγελου Κοντογιάννη-Μάνδρου, Beatriz Santos στην ιστοσελίδα μας: https://marginalia.gr/arthro/i-vrazil...

[Victor P · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent overview of the events of the last few decades in Brazil.

Simultaneously wide and deep, Anderson shows his deeper-than-most-commentators understanding of the dynamics of Brazilian society, drawing from both local and international observers to base his analysis.

The book is remarkably prescient considered that it was not written looking back but is a compilation of several articles written in the heat of the moments they describe. Very few people could do something like that and after decades see that what they wrote stands the test of time to such an uncanny extent.

The section on Bolsonaro, albeit still very prescient, is the least spot-on of them all - showing that Anderson is a more acute observer of the left than he is of the right, and also that Bolsonaro is a more unprecedented phenomenon than initially anticipated. A post scriptum provides a good course correction, in which he provides good clarification and reckons with things he did not get exactly right the first time around.

Perry Anderson once more shows his brilliance, showcasing a well connected analysis drawn from an inhumane variety of sources - showcasing his impressive command of the academic literature produced.

He also shows his deep knowledge of Brazil, where he has lived and about which he has produced greatly. His overview of the Brazilian intellectual landscape is as good as anything homegrown, and the references he draws from - André Singer in particular - are all excellent. A worthy read.

[Camilo Ruiz Tassinari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of Perry Anderson will have read a large chunk of these book, made up mostly of long pieces published on the LRB over the years. The intro and the last chapter are good value for your money though. I don't agree with some of Anderson's conclusions, and he is ready to concede that some of his forecasts have not turned out to be true. I wonder if someone has grasped the last two decades of Brazilian politics with his clairvoyance.

[Tiago Padlir · Rating 4 out of 5]

De vez em quando, é bom ver a leitura de alguém de fora. A proximidade pode dar uma leitura enviesada, mesmo daquilo que nos é tão familiar. Espero que saia uma tradução, porque é uma obra que merece ser espalhada.

[Michael]

Un resumen de 200 páginas de la historia política reciente de Brasil, mérito de un autor muy experto. Un libro bastante denso y duro de roer para un lector con poco conocimiento sobre el tema, como es mi caso.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly written, the brother of Benedict Anderson gives his readers a summary of the political history of Brazil since the end of military dictatorship. As someone who has lived among the Brazilians who has developed a keen interest in the nation's society and politics, I eagerly devoured each page, never mind that I read a Kindle version.

The last Brazilian work I read was the epic of Camões, which illustrated in the true manner of epic the voyages of the Portuguese in South Asia and Africa. I finished the book in October right in the middle of the semester. It was during the semester that I decided that my next reading on Brazil would be something more current. In school, I've learned much about world politics from both the class discussions and the references. Prior to the Lusiads, I had only read two of the diplomat Manoel de Oliveira Lima's works, which were both indeed enlightening, but were merely foundational to what insight I could gain from a deeper study of Brazilian society in the past century.

Anderson's "Brazil Apart" was not only insightful but it also gives me a good grasp of the events that transpired since the end of the military dictatorship in 1985 up to Bolsonaro's first six months in office. Since mingling with the locals as a young missionary in Paraná, I have always found the Brazilians to be vocal about their political views, not to dare mention their religious views. I was living in Curitiba when Lula was held inside its Polícia Federal building, as well as during the time of the election from which Bolsonaro would turn out victor. And so names such as Dilma Rousseff, Michel Temer, Sergio Moro, Geraldo Alckmin, lava-jato, while reading, were all familiar to me. But it is only now that I can say that I have an idea of what happened.

In my reading, I could sense a bias against particular individuals and groups of individuals, but I certainly don't think this bias was unreasonable. What I find impressive and indeed worthy of emulation was an absence of bias for a particular individual or group. In the first three chapters, one may sense a bias-like admiration for Lula, but I feel the admiration is well-deserved. One might argue that Lula's misgivings especially over the course of the lava-jato revelations have well rendered what good he has wrought for the Brazilian 'sub-proletariat' obsolete. To the surprise of some of my peers, I find myself disagreeing. This newfound knowledge of recent Brazilian political events demands of me closer attention to Lula's third term.

The Kindle copy I used has some misspellings and grammar errors, which could be due to oversight by either author or editor or both. But, as I kept telling myself when I saw these errors, Anderson's excellent writing compensates for such minor discrepancies, perhaps marking him as one of the premier authorities on Brazilian society? Surely I have to read more of them to make such a distinction. But, for sure, this compensation keeps the one star I would have otherwise withheld.

[Vicent Flor Moreno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interessant la lectura de “Brasil. Una excepción (1964-2019)”, de l'historiador anglés Perry Anderson, un repàs dels quatre darrers presidents (Cardoso, Lula, Dilma i Bolsonaro) i a problemes estructurals del sistema polític brasileny com la desigualtat i la corrupció.

Brasil és un estat molt important. Una dada: és el cinqué més extens i poblat del planeta i el segon amb renda per càpita dels BRIC. Tanmateix, és un país desconegut: està aïllat del món hispànic i la seua «cultura nacional continúa sent particularment autorreferencial».

Tot i que tingué un imperi no és una gran potència, amb un exèrcit feble i amb més vocació de repressió interna que no expansionista. L'exèrcit ha sigut una institució cabdal en la política brasilenya (Bolsonaro fou oficial i ha comptat un suport important dels militars).

Brasil és una república fortament presidencialista amb un sistema de partits molt feble, la qual cosa ha afavorit directament la compra de parlamentaris per a governar (el mensalão) i, tot i que el vot és obligatori, una part molt important dels brasilenys passen de votar.

De vegades, Anderson té una visió "orientalitzada" de la societat brasilenya: per exemple escriu que «la cultura brasilenya és sentimental i també cínica». L'estatunidenca o les europees no ho són? Així mateix afirma que «la política brasilenya té un estil italià: intricada i serpentejant». Tot amb tot, el llibre és una invitació a conéixer més un país que mereix més atenció.

+ info: https://t.co/RjWNRpE7p5

#elsmeusllibres

[Liam]

Instructive compilation of essays on Brazil's post-military dictatorship presidencies. A great introduction to a topic I'm largely unfamiliar with, presenting the grand and disheartening trends of corruption and neo-liberal disregard for humanity that plague Brazilian society regardless of party affiliation. Written from the kind of measured and palatable academic left perspective I like in my political science reading. Plus it's very readable despite some of Anderson's (minor) bothersome writing tics. For example, the author of the book, Perry Anderson, a former professor and essayist for the New Left Review, cannot resist the insertion of multiple commas into most of his sentences, which certainly breaks up the flow of the writing, and reminds one of why many avoid academic writing. A more serious criticism is Anderson's apparent distance from his subject, occasionally giving in to the sweeping generalizations of a paternalist outsider's perspective. Also learned about Brazil's involvement in UN 'peacekeeping' operations in Haiti, compelling me further to read more about Haitian history.

[Mauricio Prado Jaimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Si se tiene una idea general de la política brasileña y se desea profundizar, este es el libro correcto. Si no se conoce nada del país, quizá no sea el mejor lugar para empezar.
El libro está compuesto por una serie de artículos de coyuntura escritos por Perry Anderson. Aunque ciertamente hace un poco de falta una peinada general a los textos para darles una coherencia para un libro, es interesante ver cómo se leía en su momento, desde la izquierda, la coyuntura política y no con la ventaja del futuro cuando ya pasaron los hechos y se puede hacer una lectura política a posteriori.
Por otra parte, hay mucho que aprenderle a Perry Anderson sobre la forma de hacer un ensayo político, en el estilo, pues.

[Raphael Barbosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Análises excelentes, apesar de mal organizadas por, aparentemente, terem sido apenas aglutinadas sem um bom trabalho editorial. É nítido que os capítulos são oriundos de diferentes artigos escritos ao longo dos anos, mas que não contaram com um olhar atento para publicá-los de maneira coesa. Ainda assim, Perry Anderson joga luz a muitos meandros difíceis com que nós, à esquerda, temos dificuldade em perceber - talvez por ser mais nebuloso enxergar isso internamente do que para um estrangeiro. Enfim, apesar de ter sido publicado há mais de meia década, segue atual e afiado. Uma boa dose de franqueza para esse campo que rejeita completamente a prática salutar que a crítica exerce na política. Vida longa a essa grande geração de intelelectuais historiadores marxistas do Reino Unido !

[Cris Álvarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

É possível dizer que muitos dos males que sofrem nossas democracias latino-americanas se devem às suas respectivas transições e alternâncias. Pactos entre elites tornaram-se estruturas resistentes a tentativas de mudança. No caso do Brasil, a impunidade das Forças Armadas, somada à corrupção herdada do sistema partidário da ditadura, foram talvez os principais laberintos nos que Lula e o PT se perderam.

[Macartney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Horribly and misleadingly marketed. Merely a collection of London Review articles from 1994-2019 which are newsy, of the moment, repetitive, shallow and contradictory. This is not a history of Brazil from 1964-2019 but a history of how intellectual Londoners and the international set were supposed to discuss Brazil at cocktail parties.

[Mateus Martins · Rating 3 out of 5]

O livro mostra um verdadeiro panorama político brasileiro, mas para entender algumas partes necessitaria de um maior conhecimento sobre alguns personagens. Mesmo assim se dá para ter entendimento de como funciona a máquina pública Brasileira e seus governantes. Uma leitura interessante principalmente para os mais leigos.

[Michael Macdonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed journalism tracing the parabola of Brazilian politics from democracy back to the army saving the nation. Splendid assessment of Lula and the changes driven through populism that triggered middle class support for the military apologist, Barsellino.

[river · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful + engaging account of brazilian political history + political economy + comparative politics from a leftist perspective! what else could you need

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dense read. I think the author assumed that you knew everything about politics in Brazil ahead of time. I wish he'd spent more time explaining things.