Corruption and the federative republic of Brazil. What factors have sustained the corruption culture and what has changed?

Academic Paper from the year 2018 in the subject Politics - Region: Middle and South America, , language: English, abstract: In this paper, I will argue that there has been a 'corruption culture' that has been accepted as the 'norm' within the fabric of Brazilian society. I will argue that the mentality of 'Rouba mas faz' ('he or she steals, but get things done') and the political structure have sustained this 'culture'. I will also argue that there has been a recent switch on tolerating corruption in the past five years. And that the recession, increases in investigations, general visibility and bad governance have threatened the sustainability of the corruption culture. My primary case will be Operation Car Wash, with the Mensalão scandal and former President Collor's impeachment as secondary cases. Brazil was once synonymous with economic growth and potential, all factors pointing at global powerhouse potential. It is a country abundant with natural resources, with the 8th largest economy, largest country in the region, 6th most populous in the world, and part of the BRICS bloc. The recent years have set Brazil back, from entering into a recession dubbed the worse of its history to civil society protesting in the millions to impeaching its sitting president to most notably of all- entering and still in progress of a corruption scandal, classified as one of the largest corruption scandals in modern history.