Victory or Violence: Brazil's World Cup Prospects

In June 2013, a series of protests which began in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo as a grass-roots social media-based movement against rising public transport costs rapidly developed into the largest protest movement in Brazil since 1992. Until then, recent protests in the country resembled laidback gatherings, complete with street barbecues, where locals of all ages and backgrounds gathered together to share their grievances in carnivalesque style. The escalation was driven by the Free Fare Movement, a group of students and young people calling for free public transport. The police, who were unprepared for the scale of the protests, responded with a heavy-handed use of force that was generally perceived to be disproportionate and unnecessary. This repressive reaction, together with discontent over widespread corruption, poor infrastructure and public services and high public spending on sporting events, engaged Brazilian middle-class sensibilities and transformed the protests into a popular national movement. Between 17 and 21 June 2013 alone, over one million people attended protests in over a hundred Brazilian cities nationwide, raising concerns about the country’s ability to maintain public order during the FIFA World Cup in June-July 2014.

Protests came to a head during the FIFA Confederations Cup in late June 2013, a sporting event on a comparatively much smaller scale, and disturbances have simmered throughout 2013 and into 2014. A recent hike in bus fares in Rio de Janeiro resulted in violent protests and disruption, involving crowds of between 500 and 800 people. These latest protests resulted in one accidental death when a TV cameraman was hit by a firework lit by a protester. A shutdown of the São Paulo metro line by alleged saboteurs in early February caused chaos during afternoon rush hour when multiple panic buttons were pressed at once and people descended onto the train tracks.

Small groups of anarchist protesters known as the black bloc who have hijacked the protests, using firebombs and vandalism to put forward an anti-capitalist agenda, have been a continuing presence at protests since June 2013 and have led analysts to invoke comparisons with the “Battle of Seattle” in 1999. A radical protest group named Anonymous has called for continuing protests and have posted claims on their Facebook page that “the Cup will not happen”. Nonetheless, the potential for violence seen in recent protests will alienate many middle class protesters this summer, with the effect of both reducing and radicalising demonstrations. 

The 1999 Battle of Seattle protests surrounding the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference drew crowds of over 40,000 demonstrators. The protestors’ “black bloc” tactics attracted wide media coverage which not only reported the violence but also conveyed the protestors’ message. It is claimed that the protests brought about the first serious public discussion of anti-globalisation in mainstream media. The international spotlight on Brazil during the FIFA World Cup presents a similar opportunity for protestors to get their message out. With less than five months to go until the tournament kicks off, economic and social malaise is undiminished and little political change has been achieved to appease the protesters. In line with the “symbolic violence” of the Battle of Seattle, which targeted property not people so as not to diminish support for the cause, acts of vandalism and mass-occupations are expected during the World Cup. This violence will likely target banks, government property, the offices and retail space of large multinationals (particularly FIFA partners) as well as sport and tourist venues. Well-organised and well-attended protests could block transport routes and access to stadiums during the tournament. 

The government is under added pressure, as the World Cup coincides with a major election year - both presidential and gubernatorial elections are scheduled for October 2014. As Brazil seeks to preserve its international image and the safety of approximately 600,000 travelling fans it will be forced to employ heavy-handed repressive tactics which threaten to exacerbate the situation. One possible way out for the government is a Brazilian World Cup victory, as there is nothing like a national victory to distract detractors, defuse crises and heal the collective psyche. After all, according to opinion polls a solid majority of the population supports the event. Authorities are no doubt crossing their fingers for a Brazil victory and for the street parties of old to start up once again. 

Small groups of anarchist protesters known as the black bloc who have hijacked the protests, using firebombs and vandalism to put forward an anti-capitalist agenda, have been a continuing presence at protests since June 2013 and have led analysts to invoke comparisons with the “Battle of Seattle” in 1999. A radical protest group named Anonymous has called for continuing protests and have posted claims on their Facebook page that “the Cup will not happen”. Nonetheless, the potential for violence seen in recent protests will alienate many middle class protesters this summer, with the effect of both reducing and radicalising demonstrations. 

The 1999 Battle of Seattle protests surrounding the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference drew crowds of over 40,000 demonstrators. The protestors’ “black bloc” tactics attracted wide media coverage which not only reported the violence but also conveyed the protestors’ message. It is claimed that the protests brought about the first serious public discussion of anti-globalisation in mainstream media. The international spotlight on Brazil during the FIFA World Cup presents a similar opportunity for protestors to get their message out. With less than five months to go until the tournament kicks off, economic and social malaise is undiminished and little political change has been achieved to appease the protesters. In line with the “symbolic violence” of the Battle of Seattle, which targeted property not people so as not to diminish support for the cause, acts of vandalism and mass-occupations are expected during the World Cup. This violence will likely target banks, government property, the offices and retail space of large multinationals (particularly FIFA partners) as well as sport and tourist venues. Well-organised and well-attended protests could block transport routes and access to stadiums during the tournament. 

The government is under added pressure, as the World Cup coincides with a major election year - both presidential and gubernatorial elections are scheduled for October 2014. As Brazil seeks to preserve its international image and the safety of approximately 600,000 travelling fans it will be forced to employ heavy-handed repressive tactics which threaten to exacerbate the situation. One possible way out for the government is a Brazilian World Cup victory, as there is nothing like a national victory to distract detractors, defuse crises and heal the collective psyche. After all, according to opinion polls a solid majority of the population supports the event. Authorities are no doubt crossing their fingers for a Brazil victory and for the street parties of old to start up once again.