Brazil through two lenses: the internal and the British

While part of the Brazilian population insists on defending the current government for ideological reasons, direct benefits, or pure rejection of the opposition, the international press, especially the British, paints a very different picture of the country.

On one side is the internal lens, marked by passions, narratives, and direct experiences. On the other, the external lens, represented by outlets like The Economist, The Guardian, and The Times, which evaluate Brazil based on environmental, economic, and democratic indicators — even if they are distant from the daily reality of the people.

From the British perspective, three points stand out:

Environmental crisis: the suspension of the soybean moratorium on the eve of COP30 was interpreted as a serious setback for the protection of the Amazon, undermining Brazil's credibility as an environmental power.

Democratic fragility: reviews such as that of the documentary Apocalypse in the Tropics reinforce the perception that Brazilian politics is increasingly influenced by religion, with risks of approaching authoritarian practices.

Turbulent diplomacy: the trade crisis with the US, coupled with the rapprochement with China and BRICS, projects the country as an actor willing to challenge the traditional axis of global power — something that intrigues and disturbs European observers.

Thus, while internally the dispute is fueled by passions and narratives, externally Brazil is seen as a country in contradiction: simultaneously a potential leader, but weakened by political instability, democratic wear, and a lack of environmental coherence.

Rodrigo Fernandes
Hidden archive