The world is witnessing the rise of numerous ultraconservative and authoritarian leaders, governments, and movements that have challenged democratic institutions. The use of social media and disinformation tools — including the spread of fake news and, more recently, the use of artificial intelligence — has become a common feature across national contexts. From the national to the transnational level, ideas and practices circulate with the shared objective of undermining democratic principles, norms, experiences, and multilateral organizations. How should we understand the impact of this wave of antidemocratic and ultraconservative politics within multilateral arenas, particularly within the United Nations? And what are the distinctive features of the Bolsonaro administration (2019–2022) within this broader context? Drawing on research produced through a broad collective effort coordinated by LABMUNDO, this volume offers critical perspectives on the use of terms such as “populist leaders,” “populist governments,” and “populist foreign policy” to describe this phenomenon. Addressing the issue from theoretical and conceptual standpoints, the studies gathered here explore the Brazilian context of bolsonarism and examine how ultraconservative and antidemocratic leaderships and movements have exerted negative influences on Brazil’s foreign policy agenda.
