On the Ground During the 2014 Brazilian Presidential Election

Last fall’s Brazilian presidential election exposed deep rifts in the country’s political and social landscape. The animosity demonstrated by the candidates — who included the incumbent, Dilma Rousseff of the Worker’s Party (PT), and Aecio Neves of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party — in nationally televised debates was mirrored by ordinary citizens on the street. The country is clearly suffering from dramatic socioeconomic inequalities and widespread public discontent.