by PublicABCP
Translated and reviewed by Matheus Lucas Hebling
The book “The Fight against Systemic Corruption: Lessons from Brazil (2013–2022)” offers an in-depth analysis of systemic corruption in Brazil over the course of a decade. Coordinated by Maria Eugenia Trombini, MA in Political Science from the Federal University of Paraná, in collaboration with Elizangela Valarini, Vanessa Elias de Oliveira, and Markus Pohlmann, the work is the outcome of a binational research project funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).
Focusing on the period from 2013 to 2022—marked notably by the Operation Car Wash (Lava Jato) investigations—the book provides a detailed understanding of public–private interactions and highlights the significance of fighting systemic corruption for the stability and integrity of Brazil’s democratic institutions.
A central objective of the book is to examine how businesses and the Brazilian state interact in cases of corruption. It explores the field of political financing and the ways in which for-profit organisations manage illegality in the country. Topics include anti-corruption efforts, institutional incrementalism, and judicial decision-making processes.
The book also addresses the leaked messages between members of Operation Car Wash, especially those involving then-judge Sergio Moro and prosecutor Deltan Dallagnol. Known as “Vaza Jato,” the incident exposed an improper and collaborative relationship between judge and prosecutor aimed at criminalising defendants—contrary to Brazil’s legal framework, which prohibits such coordination between the judiciary and the prosecution.
These leaked conversations, obtained by hackers and published in the media, revealed private exchanges within the task force that ultimately undermined the operation’s legitimacy. The revelations raised serious questions about the boundaries and credibility of anti-corruption institutions, particularly when their actions influence electoral competition and weaken party politics.
The authors employ indicators and analytical tools to measure systemic corruption and assess its consequences. The book also contributes to the understanding of corrupt practices and their implications by analysing the institutional mechanisms that facilitate corruption, as well as judicial rulings that have shaped Brazil’s legal response to such offences.
The researchers underscore how anti-corruption campaigns can both delegitimise representative institutions and the political system, while simultaneously raising awareness and public demand for transparency. The work investigates both the roots of irregularities and the reactions they prompt within Brazil’s political and economic systems.
This collection provides a detailed account of the mechanisms of corruption and the institutional responses to them, emphasising the need for non-normative approaches to understand the phenomenon. In addition to presenting case analyses and anti-corruption strategies, the book invites readers to reflect on the lessons learned and consider how the findings might be applicable to other contexts.
About the Editors
Maria Eugenia Trombini is a researcher in the Organisational Crime Studies group and a member of the project Corporate Crime and Systemic Corruption in Brazil (DFG-FAPESP) at the Max Weber Institute for Sociology. A social scientist and lawyer, she holds a master’s degree in Political Science from the Federal University of Paraná and is currently a PhD candidate in Sociology at Heidelberg University.
Elizangela Valarini is a postdoctoral researcher in the Organisational Crime Studies group, co-coordinator of the Corporate Crime and Systemic Corruption in Brazil project (DFG-FAPESP), and a lecturer at the Max Weber Institute of Sociology. She holds a degree in Psychology from the State University of Maringá and both a master’s and PhD in Organisational Sociology from Heidelberg University.
Vanessa Elias de Oliveira holds a master’s and PhD in Political Science from the University of São Paulo and a master’s in Public Health from the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo. She was a CAPES scholarship recipient and conducted part of her PhD research at Columbia University.
Markus Pohlmann is a Professor of Sociology at Heidelberg University and a Fellow at the Marsilius Center for Advanced Studies. His research focuses on organisational, managerial, and economic sociology. He leads the Organisational Crime Studies group and coordinates the Corporate Crime and Systemic Corruption in Brazil project at the Max Weber Institute for Sociology.
Publication Details
Title: The Fight against Systemic Corruption: Lessons from Brazil (2013–2022)
Editors: Maria Eugenia Trombini, Elizangela Valarini, Vanessa Elias de Oliveira, and Markus Pohlmann
Publisher: Springer VS Wiesbaden
Year of Publication: 2024
ISBN: 978-3-658-43578-3
Available for download at: Springer Link
