Bureaucrats’ willingness to resist democratic backsliding: an experimental study in the Brazilian federal government
Abstract
Amidst the surge of illiberal politics, understanding bureaucratic resistance is crucial for defending democratic norms. This paper investigates civil servants’ predisposition to resist implementing undemocratic policies. We fielded two list experiments with 557 federal-level treasury attorneys in Brazil during the administration of a far-right president. We demonstrate a prevalent willingness to shirk responsibilities and, to a lesser extent, engage in sabotage when faced with antidemocratic directives. Resistance, especially through the sabotage of the government’s plans, is more pronounced among non-political appointees who perceive their role as autonomous. These findings emphasize the central role of bureaucratic actors in preserving democratic integrity and call for strategic personnel policies to counter antidemocratic tendencies.
