Since the publication of the "Coronelismo, Enxada e Voto" by Victor Nunes Leal (1949) - a classical interpretative work about Brazil -, the 'coronelismo' referred to has been studied as a particular manifestation of authoritarianism in Brazil. Some scholars, however, argue that this should be regarded only as a historically-bound form of 'mandonismo', a characteristic of the Brazilian Old Republic period. In this article we analyze the pertinence of 'coronelismo' in the organizational space of contemporary Brazil. The thesis of this paper postulates that 'coronelismo' has survived in modern Brazilian context, either with its transformed meaning of 'coronelismo eletrônico' or in other manifestations. The analysis shows that the ideas associated with the 'coronelismo de enxada' and 'coronelismo eletrônico' present similar semiological elements. In conclusion, it is postulated that the general use of 'coronelismo' has been re-signified throughout history as a singular form of authoritarianism in Brazilian political culture.
Brazilian administration; 'Coronelismo'; 'Mandonismo'; Brazilian authoritarianism