Brazil thwarted a coup attempt. Here are our lessons for the world (The Washington Post, 01/08/2024)

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 08/01/2024

This Jan. 8 marks one year since the resilience of Brazilian democracy was severely tested. A week after the inauguration of a newly elected government, extremist groups invaded the headquarters of the republic’s three branches of power. Driven by lies and disinformation, they broke windows and destroyed historical objects and works of art while transmitting their actions over the internet.

They exhibited a disregard for democracy similar to that of the invaders of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Fortunately, this coup attempt failed. Brazilian society rejected the invasion, and, during the past year, the National Congress, the Federal Supreme Court and the executive branch dedicated efforts to clarifying the facts and holding the invaders accountable.

The coup attempt was the culmination of a long process promoted by extremist political leaders to discredit democracy for their own benefit. The Brazilian electoral system, internationally recognized for its integrity, was questioned by those who were elected using that same system. Without evidence, they complained about Brazil’s electronic ballot box, just as election deniers in the United States complained about mail-in voting. The objective of these false complaints was to disqualify democracy to perpetuate power in an autocratic way.

But Brazilian democracy prevailed — and emerged stronger.

Since my return to the presidency after 12 years, the unity of the country and reconstruction of successful public policies have been goals of my administration. Government that improves lives is the best answer we have to extremists who attack democracy.

Deforestation in the Amazon, which was increasing under the previous government, fell 50 percent in 2023. We resumed anti-poverty policies such as Bolsa Família, which guarantees income for mothers who keep their children vaccinated and in school. Our economy grew three times more in 2023 than predicted by the International Monetary Fund, and we became the second-largest destination of foreign direct investment in the world, according to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Brazil, with its democratic commitments, returned to the international scene without the climate change denial and neglect for science of the previous administration, which cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of Brazilians in the covid-19 pandemic.

The world is experiencing a contradictory moment today. Global challenges require commitment and cooperation among nations. We have never been so connected. At the same time, we are finding it increasingly difficult to dialogue, respect differences and carry out joint actions.

Societies are taken over by individualism and nations are distancing themselves from each other, making it difficult to promote peace and face complex problems: the climate crisis; food and energy insecurity; geopolitical tensions and wars; the growth of hate speech and xenophobia.

These are problems fueled by widespread inequality on a global scale — among nations and within nations.

In recent decades, an exclusionary economic development model has concentrated income, fostered frustration, curbed workers’ rights and fueled distrust in public institutions.

Inequality serves as fertile ground for extremism and political polarization. When democracy fails to provide for the well-being of the people, extremists seek to discredit the political process and promote disbelief in institutions.

The erosion of democracy is exacerbated by the fact that people’s news sources and social interactions are mediated by digital applications that were designed for profit, not democratic coexistence. The Big Tech business model, which prioritizes engagement and attention-seeking, promotes inflammatory content and strengthens extremist discourse, favoring antidemocratic forces that operate in internationally coordinated networks.

It is even more worrying that artificial intelligence, in addition to worsening misinformation, can promote discrimination, cause unemployment and infringe on rights.

These technological, social and political issues are integrated. Strengthening democracy depends on the ability of states not only to confront structural inequalities and promote the well-being of the population but also to confront the factors that fuel violent extremism.

Another Jan. 6 or Jan. 8 can be avoided only by transforming the reality of inequality and precarious work. This concern motivated the partnership to promote decent work that I launched with President Biden in September, with support from the International Labor Organization.

We also need global actions to promote the integrity of information and the inclusive and humanistic development and use of artificial intelligence. The United Nations, including UNESCO, and other international organizations are working to face these problems.

Brazil assumed the presidency of the Group of 20 last month, and we have placed the fight against inequalities in all their dimensions at the center of our agenda under the motto “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet.” I hope political leaders can meet in Brazil throughout this year, seeking collective solutions to these challenges that affect all of humanity.