Captain Mayor and Sergeant Councilman? An Assessment of the Reach of Military Politicization in Brazilian Politics.
Saved in:
| Title: | Captain Mayor and Sergeant Councilman? An Assessment of the Reach of Military Politicization in Brazilian Politics. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Piazza, Kelly (AUTHOR), Landy, Jamie (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Armed Forces & Society (Sage Publications Inc.). Oct2025, Vol. 51 Issue 4, p1185-1220. 36p. |
| Subjects: | Political campaigns, Multilevel models, Local elections, Armed forces, Regression analysis |
| Abstract: | Civilian control of the armed forces and the absence of military politicization are fundamental democratic norms. In recent years, some democratically elected national leaders, including former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, have subverted these norms. In this article, we, first, evaluate whether the increased national political involvement of the armed forces in Brazil extends to the realm of local politics and, second, discern whether conditions- and demand-based theories explain local-level trends. To do this, we descriptively assess candidacies from 21st-century Brazilian municipal elections and estimate a series of municipality- and multi-level regression models exclusively for the 2020 round. We learn that national politicization has coincided with a marked increase in the number of military candidates, conceptualized as those who use military titles in their electoral campaigns, in Brazilian mayoral and city councilor contests and that municipal support for Bolsonaro is positively associated with military candidates contesting local elections, in line with conditions-based theories, sounding the alarm bells of civil–military weakening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Armed Forces & Society (Sage Publications Inc.) is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | Civilian control of the armed forces and the absence of military politicization are fundamental democratic norms. In recent years, some democratically elected national leaders, including former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, have subverted these norms. In this article, we, first, evaluate whether the increased national political involvement of the armed forces in Brazil extends to the realm of local politics and, second, discern whether conditions- and demand-based theories explain local-level trends. To do this, we descriptively assess candidacies from 21st-century Brazilian municipal elections and estimate a series of municipality- and multi-level regression models exclusively for the 2020 round. We learn that national politicization has coincided with a marked increase in the number of military candidates, conceptualized as those who use military titles in their electoral campaigns, in Brazilian mayoral and city councilor contests and that municipal support for Bolsonaro is positively associated with military candidates contesting local elections, in line with conditions-based theories, sounding the alarm bells of civil–military weakening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0095327X |
| DOI: | 10.1177/0095327X241255652 |
