The Paradox of Situational Authoritarianism: When Brazilians Relativize Democratic Principles

Abstract

This study examines the extent to which Brazilian voters relativize liberal-democratic principles under conditions of political polarization. The central hypothesis is that polarization operates as a cognitive mechanism activating latent “illiberal” dispositions, thus generating a pattern of situational authoritarianism. Data come from a nationally representative survey (INCT ReDem/UFPR, n = 1,504, February 2025) that measures two analytical dimensions — political liberalism versus majoritarianism and constitutionalism versus concentration of power. Associations between democratic attitudes and presidential vote choice were tested using chi-square statistics and Cramer’s V coefficients. Results show simultaneous endorsement of liberal and illiberal values, indicating both normative ambivalence and situational incumbency effects: citizens’ commitment to democratic principles shifts depending on their political group’s position in power. The study introduces and empirically demonstrates the concept of situational authoritarianism, contributing to the broader debate on conditional support for democracy and advancing the understanding of the fragility of liberal resilience in contemporary Brazil.