Anti-populist fantasies: interrogating <i>Veja</i>'s discursive constructions, from Lula to Bolsonaro

In this paper we draw on the concept of fantasy and principles political discourse theory to develop an analytical framework for study Veja's anti-populist discourse. As one Brazil's most influential publications in elite policy-making circles, Veja exerts considerable influence over way populist politics is portrayed understood. By tracking signifiers ‘populism’ ‘populist’ pages weekly magazine, our affirms distinctive virtues adopting a psychoanalytically-informed perspective antagonism ideology, treating as core polarizing discourses generally about populism particular. Far from remaining above fray its opposition both Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (and Workers’ Party) Jair Bolsonaro Social Liberal Party), critical shows how pronouncements were ideologically invested normatively inflected.