Conservatism in politics in the Bolsonaro government new articulations, religious values and customs agenda

Abstract

This article examines how religious values are implicated in the public debate in the Bolsonaro administration. This covers controversial moral issues-abortion and sexual diversity, topics associated with the charge category "gender ideology." These topics are part of the customs agenda, an agenda in sexual and reproductive morality triggered in Jair Bolsonaro's presidential campaign that engages his religious supporters. This research analyzes controversies based on documentary research in the electronic sites of the mainstream press and of news reports_linked_to_the_Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary, as well as an examination of the social networks of agents involved in the social movements analyzed. In the context of the Covid 19 pandemic, the customs agenda was momentarily eclipsed by the issue of freedom of worship. In addition to the participation of religious leaders in the president's support base, one can observe the eruption of civil society movements, self-designated Christians, who fight for the political strengthening of the ruler, in his authoritarian rise, against democratic institutions, especially the Supreme Court. These conservative movements claim to defend religious freedom among other civil liberties. Such conservatism is associated with certain gender language and a so-called Christian identity. The bias in execution of public policies reveals morality based on religious_values.