Brazilian rackets. Remarks on current historical circumstances

Abstract

To reflect on the current historical circumstances that led to Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment, this article relies on a Critical Theory notion regarding the development of capitalism in the first half of the twentieth century which connects forms of domination to the use of violence: the racket. After a short exposition of the term, it reconstructs the Brazilian political and social scenario, detailing some of its specific conditions such as the overexploitation of the labor force and its model of neoliberalism. In addition to an exposition that connects the current government to rackets, I outline a picture of current class relations, which shows the emergence of conservative and reactionary groups as well as the deadlock of the left. The aim is to show that the current coup’s purpose is to maintain domination over Brazilian society at the costs of violence.