Abstract:
The article analyzes Brazil´s federative dynamics in the first three years of president Jair Bolsonaro´s administration, using analytical tools from the policy design approach and the comparative literature on contemporary populism. Actions and inactions in two key areas of intergovernmental relations- the Covid-19 pandemic and the renewal of the Fund for Basic Education (Fundeb) -reveal inconsistencies among policy goals and the instruments adopted by the government. Non-design has proved to be the prevalent form of policy making. The analysis also demonstrates how the administration has engaged in a dichotomous and confrontational rhetoric that is typical of populist politicians, in its interactions with subnational officers, the Constitutional Court, and other members of the political elite. Both trends help us understand Bolsonaro’s populist stance toward federative relations in the implementation of social policies.
Keywords:
Brazilian federation; Bolsonaro administration; federal coordination; covid-19; Fundeb