Democratic spaces erode into nonexistence precisely when people idolize authoritarianism

Evidence

In a very real way, it appears Brazil is going back in time, with many idolizing authoritarianism and not realizing how oppression works and how democratic spaces erode into a place of non-existence. There is no doubt it is time to welcome Paulo Freire again in Brazil. — James D. Kirylo (ed.), Reinventing Pedagogy of the Oppressed, 1343

Categorization

• DEEPTHINKING: A concise statement of how democratic erosion proceeds through idolization rather than through outright rejection — worth sitting with against backsliding literature.
• XREF: connects to: Social media microtargeting drove Brazil’s 2018 far-right electoral outcome — James D. Kirylo (ed.), Reinventing Pedagogy of the Oppressed:…, 1336; Neoliberalism’s weakening of democratic values enables neoconservative moralism and authoritarianism — Jessica Whyte, The Morals of the Market: Human Rights…, 169; Self-proclaimed patriots among authoritarians care little for democracy (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Self-proclaimed patriots among authoritarians care little for democracy #corroborates (0.78)
• Participation without control over parameters is not democracy but its evisceration #expands (0.75) — Wendy Brown, Undoing the Demos, 247
• Neoliberalism’s weakening of democratic values enables neoconservative moralism and authoritarianism #corroborates (0.72) — Jessica Whyte, The Morals of the Market, 169