The smartphone election: how the 2018 ballot was won

Make no mistake: this is an iconic campaign. We might be witnessing the twilight of Lulism, which political scientist André Singer described as “the convergence of the interests of the private industry sector on one side, and of the organized labor force on the other,  [that] led to the stability that allowed this political system to take the form of a sort of consensus.” We could be facing the rise of a new political establishment – as most political dynasties have endured hard electoral losses. But the major turnaround the 2018 election will represent is forever changing how candidates campaign.

Jair Bolsonaro spent the last month of the campaign in a hospital bed, after being stabbed in the abdomen in early September. In the runoff, he chose not to debate his opponent at any point – a first in Brazilian politics. Still, barring a major upset, he will become Brazil’s 38th president tomorrow. Why?

There are many reasons, some of which we have covered in other articles: an anti-system wave, major rejection of the Workers’ Party...