Inauguration of a Fusion Center of Multinational Intelligence gathering located next to the pristine Iguaçu Falls—a long-held dream of the U.S. Embassy—is a case in point
“The U.S. has been a huge partner to Brazil in this project and others as well and we’re taking advantage of the model that...
On January 8th, right-wing Brazilians stormed the federal building and Supreme Court in the capital of Brasília. Inspired by baseless accusations by former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro that the October elections were stolen, the rioters broke windows, smashed art, destroyed paintings, stole computers and more.
The magnitude, distinction and dramatic contradictions in the turnaround 2026 presidential election victory of Luíz Inácio Lula da Silva warrants this and other grass-root analysis. Claiming a historic fourth term as Brazil’s head of state, this time defeating the now-fugitive son of the coup-attempt, convicted and disgraced former president,...
Preface
Evidence related to local Rio de Janeiro intelligence operations in these matters have not been ascertained. Incidents are fairly new and ongoing. Two separate arrests of the main subject of this investigative series occurred over a two-week period in February 2025: One was for reckless driving; the other involved...
Political Intrigue Grows As Brazilian Election Approaches
Déjà vu is playing out in Brazil. After protracted media and judicial campaigns against former president Luíz Inácio Lula da Silva, translating into his imprisonment for one-and-a-half years, the effect has been minimal, if any, as far as the 2022 presidential polls are...
In Part I of our series, we reflected on some of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s personal and political background, as well as his success during two terms as president of Brazil. We also highlighted one of his long-time political rivals, former São Paulo governor Geraldo Alckmin. Alckmin's sudden...
“It’s also in your hands to prevent the return of corruption and robbery to take hold of the country…It’s you who can prevent the release of a prisoner convicted of corruption”
—Geraldo Alckmin speaking during his 2018 presidential campaign. Four years on, the former governor of São Paulo is...
Private interests and foreign influence helped to pave the path toward Brazil’s military dictatorship (1964-1985). The armed forces is not an institution separate from society...It’s a reflection of that violent and authoritarian society. However, they are more dangerous because they have the prerogative to legally use firearms.
—Priscila Brandão
An...
The large-scale operation in Rio de Janeiro carried out on October 28, which has already left at least 121 people dead and once again laid bare the logic of war applied to poverty, should not be understood solely as a local public-security issue.
It is part of a global control...
Ten U.S. presidents, 20 CIA directors, and 56 years of covert action screwed over Brazil’s poor and paved the way for the election of Jair Bolsonaro
Covid-19, murder, evangelical Christianity, crime, environmental destruction, drugs, shantytowns, inequality, corruption, doesn’t matter what you pick, Brazil is a world leader in them all—and...
Radhika Desai is a Professor of Political Studies at the University of Manitoba, Winnepeg, Canada, Director of its Geopolitical Economy Research Group, and Convenor of the International Manifesto Group. Ms. Desai is an author of multiple books, including Geopolitical Economy(2013) and her most recent Capitalism, Coronavirus and War(2022). Ms. Desai hosts a fortnightly show, Geopolitical Economy Hour on the Geopolitical Economy Report website.
Yan Pan is a Chinese PhD researcher at LUT University, Finland. Her work examines the political economy of China’s technological and industrial development, with a particular focus on the industrialization and governance of neurotechnology in China. Her research concerns industrial policy models for future industries in Chinese and Global South contexts. Prior to her PhD, she researched educational reforms and structural change in labor demand in China.
Ken Hammond is professor emeritus of East Asian and Global History at New Mexico State University. He has lived and worked in China from time to time since 1982. A lifelong political activist, he is a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.