Brazil and the United States are the two largest democracies in the Western Hemisphere. Their political histories are distinct, but their societies are confronting several parallel transformations.
In both countries, economic insecurity, demographic change, technological disruption, and declining confidence in institutions are reshaping how citizens understand power, status, and opportunity.
As Brazil approaches its 2026 presidential election and the United States prepares for the 2026 midterms, this dialogue will examine how these pressures are redefining democratic expectations in both countries. The discussion will focus on where the two cases illuminate one another, where the comparison breaks down, and what their respective trajectories reveal about democracy under conditions of social and economic strain.
Join the Brazil Program at the Inter-American Dialogue on Thursday, August 27, from 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM ET to explore how these deeper societal transformations are redefining life and institutions in Brazil and the United States.
MODERATOR
BRUNA SANTOS
Director, Brazil Program, Inter-American Dialogue
SPEAKERS
ANA CAROLINA EVANGELISTA
Political Scientist and Researcher, Institute for the Study of Religion (ISER)
CLIFFORD YOUNG
Chair, Ipsos Public Affairs, Senior Fellow, Brazil Program at the Inter-American Dialogue
DEBORA THOME
Political Scientist and Professor, Brazilian Institute of Education, Development, and Research (IDP)
IAN V. ROWE
Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
LUCAS DE SOUZA MARTINS
Professor and Research Fellow, Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)
