Ideological Evolution and Polarization in Brazil
ideology; political parties; polarization; political landscape; Brazil.
This article examines the crucial role of ideology in shaping political dynamics and decision-making processes in Brazil. Based on data on the historical ideological evolution of Brazilian political parties, this article presents the ideological composition of the Executive and Legislative branches at all federative levels (federal, state and municipal) over the years. The article also investigates the determinants of ideology, emphasizing the growing importance of cultural and identity factors, in contrast to a relative reduction in the significance of economic determinants. The research also provides analyses and reflections on the dynamics of political polarization and its impact on public policies, electoral behavior and democracy in the country, offering an in-depth understanding of the Brazilian political scenario, especially since redemocratization.