‘A Resonant Crisis: Hartmut Rosa’s Theories and Brazil’s DemocraticDecline (2013-2023)’

Abstract

This article applies the sociological theories of Hartmut Rosa, namely, his social acceleration and resonance theories, to Brazil’s democratic decline from 2013 to 2023. It argues that the relentless pace of modern life, as described by Rosa’s theory of acceleration, created public discontent with the slow and procedural nature of democratic institutions. The article argues that this discontent with democracy fostered a profound sense of dissonance between citizens and Brazil’s political system. This dissonance, exacerbated by political and economic crises, created a fertile ground for an anti-systemic movement that culminated in the election of Jair Bolsonaro in 2018 and in the process of democratic decline thereafter. By applying Rosa’s theoretical framework to Brazil’s democratic decline, the article proposes a fine-grained analysis for comprehending the socio-temporal elements that have undermined Brazilian democracy. This article enhances Rosa’s theoretical and conceptual framework to elucidate how anti-democratic forces exploit dissonance and create ‘pseudo-resonance,” which represents a false sense of connection based on shared antagonism against democratic institutions.