Democracy has not yet been consolidated in Brazil. It is what Mainwaring et al (2001) called semi-democracy, i.e., a political system characterized by its institutional hybridism, presenting advanced features of (political) democracy, as well as some visibly authoritarian characteristics. This article intends to discuss the Brazilian semi-democracy analyzing the state's institutions of coercive power. The justice system and the public safety are examined in a context where the political and the historical explanation complement each other. Starting from a minimalist conception of democracy, the article analyzes some coercive institutions to contrast the theory with the formal and informal reality of these institutions.
Semi-democracy; Due process (criminal); Due process of law; Police and civil-military relations
