If you’re at all familiar with Brazil, then you’ve probably heard about the “jeitinho brasileiro” – or the Brazilian way. This expression refers to our informal way of handling problems. And though this motto is by no means exclusive to Brazil, it has indeed become a defining aspect of the quintessential Brazilian life.
In essence, the Brazilian way refers to how Brazilians – of any origin – make all relationships personal ones, in order to create a particular set of rules for themselves, breaking with the social (or even legal) conventions that should apply to everyone.
However, this isn’t always negative. Sometimes, the Brazilian way simply amounts to being flexible or providing a quick fix to a problem. It’s an acknowledgment that real-life issues often require solutions that the written rules might not account for, although it creates a thin line between adaptability and corruption.
But if you want to go deeper and find out what drives our jeitinho approach to life, you’ve got to do a little historical digging.
Historical background of the ‘jeitinho’
Since the early years of Portuguese colonization, the border between public and private has been systematically trespassed. We inherited the system of patronage common in the Portuguese administration. The finances of the Kingdom of Portugal and those of its king were not actually separated; the State’s property was combined with the King’s personal property, and this way of handling finances was not much different in the colonies.
When Portugal decided to occupy and explore Brazil, then-king Dom João III created a feudal system that lasted until 1821: the hereditary captaincies. The King divided the territory into 14 regions, each dominated by one family that had carte blanche to act as they pleased.
We also inherited our excessive bureaucracy from the Portuguese. Our government is so centralized that it’s nearly impossible to undertake anything without some sort of interference from the state. Have you ever signed a contract in Brazil? Then you likely had to have your signature validated in a state-licensed notary’s office to prove your identity.
Finally, massive levels of inequality have always been present in Brazil. This is true from the early years of our country, when a third of the population was enslaved, until today, when over 10 million people live on under $40 per month. In a culture where the concept of equality is non-existent, it seems inevitable that a bubble of privilege was created. To the select few, the state offers conditions including fiscal immunities, subsidized interest rates, and a different set of laws.
Social reasons for the Brazilian way
The sociologist Sérgio Buarque de Holanda defines Brazilians as being cordial, which he characterizes as not particularly gracious, but rather someone ruled by emotion. Bryan McCann, of Georgetown University, elaborated on the concept: “Brazil’s cordial man seeks true liberation within social life, where he frees himself from both the constraints of ritual and the burdens of individualism.” The cordial man puts his personal interests – and those of his close ones – above the general public’s interest.
Moreover, there is a latent tension between Brazilians and an ever-present fear of being taken advantage of. “In colonial times, social relations were brutal. If someone was not submissive to you, he or she was your enemy. That has remained, a feeling of mistrust between people – of all social classes,” says philosopher Roberto Romano from the University of Campinas.
When you have a lack of public trust, a state that is accessible just to some, and a fluid line separating the public from the private, you have the perfect recipe for a society where bending the rules is simply business as usual. For many people, especially those who are more vulnerable, straying outside the lines is the only way to get something done. The reasoning? While the government might be corrupt, it’s the smart ones who will get things done.
However, this kind of thinking also contributes to our social, economic, and political dysfunction. It creates a culture where you can’t help but occasionally think, “If everyone is corrupt, why should I follow the rules?” While Brazilians should certainly continue their out-of-the-box thinking, we should only use that skill when it doesn’t clash with the law.
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