Strengthening the Democratic Environment

The Strengthening the Democratic Environment Program was created in response to worsening political polarization, the systematic spread of disinformation, and the growing erosion of public trust in Brazil’s democratic institutions. In recent years, coordinated attacks against the electoral system, public authorities, and democratic values themselves have fostered an environment of political hostility and social distrust. Surveys indicating high levels of distrust in electronic voting machines, for example, have shown that Brazil’s democratic crisis extends beyond formal institutions, also affecting political culture and patterns of social coexistence.

The expansion of digital disinformation, driven by changes in how platforms operate and the strengthening of transnational extremist networks, has intensified the challenges to the integrity of public debate.

The program’s main objective is therefore to strengthen Brazil’s democratic environment by protecting information integrity, valuing pluralism, and promoting a political culture based on dialogue, active listening, and democratic coexistence. It seeks to counter anti-democratic narratives, increase public trust in institutions, and help ensure that political processes take place in a safer, more inclusive, and better-informed environment.

To achieve these objectives, the program brings together different areas of action. The Confia Project monitors disinformation ecosystems and hate speech, producing strategic analyses and evidence-based counter-narratives to strengthen public trust in the electoral process. Meanwhile, the Entretanto initiative promotes training cycles, dialogues, and publications aimed at improving the quality of public debate and encouraging democratic coexistence and the constructive management of disagreements.

Democracy depends not only on the proper functioning of institutions, but also on the existence of a vibrant and broadly shared democratic culture. Democracies weakened by disinformation, intolerance, and political violence become more vulnerable to authoritarian capture. For this reason, the program invests in rebuilding public trust, valuing pluralism, and creating safe spaces for dialogue capable of fostering lasting democratic bonds.

Through these efforts, the program seeks to consolidate a public sphere in which political diversity is recognized as a non-negotiable value. By strengthening democratic culture and confronting systematic disinformation, it contributes to a democracy that is more resilient, pluralistic, and prepared to address contemporary challenges.

Democracy is sustained not only by institutions, but also by the quality of public debate, information, and the rules governing political competition. This program brings together initiatives aimed at protecting electoral integrity, countering disinformation, and promoting a healthier, more pluralistic, and participatory democratic environment.