Party ideologies of the Lula government: The voter´s perception

Abstract

The theme of party and ideology has been the subject of much discussion in the social sciences throughout the twentieth century. However, new party types that emerged in the end of the century could reduce the idea that party organizations are grounded in a strong ideology. The Brazilian case is interesting in this sense, as the arrival of a leftist government for the first time since the return to democracy represents an opportunity for new perceptions of voters regarding the party system. This study examines people’s understanding of ideologies and parties. We use data from Eseb 2002, 2006 and 2010 to demonstrate how there was an ideological shift on the perception of voters about the party system.