Dictablanda
Encyclopedia
"Dictablanda" is a word used by political scientists
to describe a dictatorship
in which civil liberties
are allegedly preserved rather than destroyed. The word dictablanda is a portmanteau of the Spanish
words dictadura ("dictatorship") and blanda ("soft"). There is an element of pun
ning in the expression, involved in that blanda replaces dura, meaning "hard".
The term was first used in Spain
in 1930 when Dámaso Berenguer
replaced Miguel Primo de Rivera y Orbaneja as the head of the ruling military junta (or "directorio militar") and attempted to reduce tensions in the country by repealing some of the harsher measures that had been introduced by the latter. It was also used to refer to the latter years of Francisco Franco
's regime, and to the hegemonic 70-year rule of the Institutional Revolutionary Party
(PRI) in Mexico
.
The term "dictablanda" can be usefully contrasted with "democradura", meaning an illiberal democracy
— a system in which the government and its leaders are elected, but is nevertheless relatively deficient in civil liberties. One example was the result of the bloodless coup in Pakistan
by Pervez Musharaf from October 12, 1999 to January 1, 2004, when Musharraf constitutionally became President of the country by winning 56% of the votes in its Electoral College
. Another was produced by the confirmation of Augusto Pinochet
as President in the 1980 Chilean national plebiscite.
of the Brazil
ian newspaper Folha de S. Paulo
criticizing the Hugo Chávez
administration in Venezuela
referred to the Brazilian military dictatorship as a "ditabranda" (Portuguese
version of "dictablanda"). Since Folha de S. Paulo has the largest circulation in the country, reactions to the usage of the term were almost immediate.
Among the first people to condemn the usage of the term were the newspaper's own readers and University of São Paulo
professors Maria Victória Benevides and Fábio Konder Comparato. The newspaper answered that it "respects the opinion of readers that disagrees with the usage of the term in the editorial to refer to the Brazilian military regime". It, however, tried to debunk the letters sent by Benevides and Comparto, because they supposedly "have not until this day expressed their repudiation to left-wing dictatorships, such as the one still in power in Cuba
". According to Folha de S. Paulo, their indignation was "cynical and deceitful".
The newspaper was heavily criticized on the internet and by other media outlets, such as small left-wing magazines Fórum, Caros Amigos
(which published a cover story on the usage of the term), and Carta Capital. None of these critiques, however, had as much visibility as a news story titled "The ditabranda scandal" run by Rede Record
on its Domingo Espetacular Sunday newsmagazine. It accused the Grupo Folha
of maintaining liaisons with the dictatorship's repressive bodies. Folha de S. Paulo repelled itself from the accusations, which made Record run the story once again in its flagship newsprogram Jornal da Record and post it on its official YouTube
channel. According to the newspaper's own columnist Elio Gaspari
, however, "cars of the company were borrowed to the DOI
, which used them as coverage to transport prisoners".
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
to describe a dictatorship
Dictatorship
A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator. It has three possible meanings:...
in which civil liberties
Civil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
are allegedly preserved rather than destroyed. The word dictablanda is a portmanteau of the Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
words dictadura ("dictatorship") and blanda ("soft"). There is an element of pun
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
ning in the expression, involved in that blanda replaces dura, meaning "hard".
The term was first used in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 1930 when Dámaso Berenguer
Dámaso Berenguer
Dámaso Berenguer y Fusté, Count of Xauen was a Spanish soldier and politician.Berenguer was born in San Juan de los Remedios, Cuba, while that island nation was still a Spanish province....
replaced Miguel Primo de Rivera y Orbaneja as the head of the ruling military junta (or "directorio militar") and attempted to reduce tensions in the country by repealing some of the harsher measures that had been introduced by the latter. It was also used to refer to the latter years of Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
's regime, and to the hegemonic 70-year rule of the Institutional Revolutionary Party
Institutional Revolutionary Party
The Institutional Revolutionary Party is a Mexican political party that held power in the country—under a succession of names—for more than 70 years. The PRI is a member of the Socialist International, as is the rival Party of the Democratic Revolution , making Mexico one of the few...
(PRI) in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
The term "dictablanda" can be usefully contrasted with "democradura", meaning an illiberal democracy
Illiberal democracy
An illiberal democracy, also called a pseudo democracy, partial democracy, low intensity democracy, empty democracy, hybrid regime or delegative democracy, is a governing system in which, although elections take place, citizens are cut off from knowledge about the activities of those who exercise...
— a system in which the government and its leaders are elected, but is nevertheless relatively deficient in civil liberties. One example was the result of the bloodless coup in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
by Pervez Musharaf from October 12, 1999 to January 1, 2004, when Musharraf constitutionally became President of the country by winning 56% of the votes in its Electoral College
Electoral College of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is chosen by an electoral college, in Pakistan. According to article 41 of the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan, this electoral college consists of the Senate, the National Assembly of Pakistan, and the Members of the Provincial Assemblies. Members of the National Assembly...
. Another was produced by the confirmation of Augusto Pinochet
Augusto Pinochet
Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte, more commonly known as Augusto Pinochet , was a Chilean army general and dictator who assumed power in a coup d'état on 11 September 1973...
as President in the 1980 Chilean national plebiscite.
Controversial usage in Brazil
On February 17, 2009, an editorialEditorial
An opinion piece is an article, published in a newspaper or magazine, that mainly reflects the author's opinion about the subject. Opinion pieces are featured in many periodicals.-Editorials:...
of the Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian newspaper Folha de S. Paulo
Folha de S. Paulo
Folha de S. Paulo, known simply as Folha , is a Brazilian daily newspaper founded and continuously published in São Paulo since 19 February 1921. Owned by the Frias de Oliveira family since 1962, it has Brazil's largest circulation since 1986. Alongside O Globo and O Estado de S...
criticizing the Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
administration in Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
referred to the Brazilian military dictatorship as a "ditabranda" (Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
version of "dictablanda"). Since Folha de S. Paulo has the largest circulation in the country, reactions to the usage of the term were almost immediate.
Among the first people to condemn the usage of the term were the newspaper's own readers and University of São Paulo
University of São Paulo
Universidade de São Paulo is a public university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is the largest Brazilian university and one of the country's most prestigious...
professors Maria Victória Benevides and Fábio Konder Comparato. The newspaper answered that it "respects the opinion of readers that disagrees with the usage of the term in the editorial to refer to the Brazilian military regime". It, however, tried to debunk the letters sent by Benevides and Comparto, because they supposedly "have not until this day expressed their repudiation to left-wing dictatorships, such as the one still in power in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
". According to Folha de S. Paulo, their indignation was "cynical and deceitful".
The newspaper was heavily criticized on the internet and by other media outlets, such as small left-wing magazines Fórum, Caros Amigos
Caros Amigos
Caros Amigos is a monthly Brazilian magazine which focuses on politics, social issues and culture from a left wing point of view. It is published in São Paulo and distributed throughout the country by Editora Casa Amarela...
(which published a cover story on the usage of the term), and Carta Capital. None of these critiques, however, had as much visibility as a news story titled "The ditabranda scandal" run by Rede Record
Rede Record
Rede Record de Televisão is a Brazilian television network, founded in 1953 by Paulo Machado de Carvalho, also founder of Rádio Record. Currently it is owned by businessman Edir Macedo, founder and bishop of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God. Since 2007 it is Brazil's second largest...
on its Domingo Espetacular Sunday newsmagazine. It accused the Grupo Folha
Grupo Folha
The Grupo Folha is a Brazilian conglomerate of publishing companies, including newspapers, publishing houses, print shops and so on...
of maintaining liaisons with the dictatorship's repressive bodies. Folha de S. Paulo repelled itself from the accusations, which made Record run the story once again in its flagship newsprogram Jornal da Record and post it on its official YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
channel. According to the newspaper's own columnist Elio Gaspari
Elio Gaspari
Elio Gaspari is a Brazilian journalist and writer resident in São Paulo, Brazil. He came to Brazil while still an infant, and began his career in journalism not long thereafter...
, however, "cars of the company were borrowed to the DOI
DOI-CODI
The Destacamento de Operações de Informações - Centro de Operações de Defesa Interna was the Brazilian intelligence and repression agency during the military government . This period started on March 31, 1964 with the removal of the civilian government by military forces and ended in the 1984....
, which used them as coverage to transport prisoners".