On fascism and populism: power methodologies and political tools

Abstract

If democracy implies equality and competitiveness, following Robert Dahl's basic precepts, it is understandable why Brazilian democracy is threatened just thirty years after the process of redemocratization. In this context, the discussion arises as to which label to use to name the anti-democratic movement that spreads not only throughout Brazil, but around the world. This article will discuss the relationships between two of these major labels, fascism and populism, and their contemporary applications as two signifiers for the same signification. It is intended, through am analysis of the bibliography referring to the two concepts, to point out that both are actually methodologies of power and political tools, not hermetic political systems, which explains the elasticity of their understandings.