When The Leader Goes Rogue: Comparing Conservative Parties’ Responses To Election Denial By Their Respective Leaders In The Us And Brazil

Author

Brendan Kelly, University of Central FloridaFollow

Keywords

Populism; Democratic backsliding; USA; Brazil; Bolsonaro; Trump

Abstract

The intent of this thesis is to explore the responses of political leaders and parties in Brazil and the United States to Jair Bolsonaro and Donald Trump and how these responses have influenced the political landscape and the democratic institutions in each country. Both Bolsonaro and Trump challenged democratic norms, prompting varied reactions from political actors that have shaped governance, public trust, and institutional stability. The differing levels of resistance or Complicity from political leaders and parties have had lasting effects on democracy. This thesis will examine the respective narratives, democratic institutions, partisan reactions, and shifts in political discourse to assess the broader implications of these responses on democracy in Brazil and the United States.

Thesis Completion Year

2025

Thesis Completion Semester

Spring

Thesis Chair

Marien, Daniel

College

College of Sciences

Department

School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs

Thesis Discipline

Political Science

Language

English

Access Status

Campus Access

Length of Campus Access

1 year

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

STARS Citation

Kelly, Brendan, "When The Leader Goes Rogue: Comparing Conservative Parties’ Responses To Election Denial By Their Respective Leaders In The Us And Brazil" (2025). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 262.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/262