Democracy on a Tightrope explores the complex relationship between politics and bureaucracy in Brazil’s democratic development since the 1988 Constitution. Drawing from academic research and firsthand government experience, Pedro Abramovay and Gabriela Lotta examine how technocracy, meritocracy, and institutional power can both support and undermine democratic governance. Through vivid case studies—from drug policy to the Internet Bill of Rights—the book reveals how balancing political legitimacy with bureaucratic expertise is essential to building an inclusive, participatory democracy that resists authoritarian drift.

Pedro Abramovay is vice president of Programs at the Open Society Foundations and a PhD in political science. Previously, Abramovay held a series of key posts within Brazil’s Ministry of JusticeGabriela Lotta is a professor of public administration at FGV-SP and a PhD in political science and a researcher at the Center for Metropolis Studies, in addition to being a visiting professor at Oxford University in 2021.

“Politics is essential for overcoming historical challenges and building a democracy that confronts its violent past, does not oppress minorities, and ensures society’s participation in decisions about the country’s direction. The book Democracy on a Tightrope offers an indispensable reflection for anyone fighting for a just Brazil.”
— Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil

“Combining solid academic research with the experience of those who have served in government, Gabriela Lotta and Pedro Abramovay provide an original and relevant contribution to understanding how to seek a delicate balance in our democratic development.”
— Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Former President of Brazil

“We need strong, capable government equipped to handle the biggest challenges of our time while also maintaining strong democratic engagement and participation. Pedro Abramovay and Gabriela Lotta’s book underscores the importance of getting this balance right.”
– Professor Mariana Mazzucato

Translators’ Note
Introduction: The Engine of Democracy
PART I. Politics and Bureaucracy
Chapter 1. The Fetishization of Meritocracy
Chapter 2. Old and New Patterns of Relations between the State and Society in Brazil
Chapter 3. Administrative Reform under Fernando Henrique Cardoso and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
PART II. Democracy Struggling to Balance: Bureaucracy Overrides Politics
Chapter 4. The Access to Information Law
Chapter 5. The Battisti Case
PART III. Democracy Struggling to Balance: Bureaucratic Disdain for Politics
Chapter 6. Drug Policy
Chapter 7. The ENCCLA Anti-Corruption Network and Operation Carwash
PART IV. Democracy Striking a Balance: Politics and Bureaucracy Foster Democracy
Chapter 8. The Thinking About the Law Initiative
Chapter 9. The Statute of Indigenous Peoples
Chapter 10. The Dry Law
Chapter 11. The Internet Bill of Rights
Conclusions
Acknowledgements
Glossary
Bibliography
Supplementary Reading
Index