Authoritarian Shades: An Analysis of Public Endorsement for Excessive Force in Brazil

Why do citizens endorse the use of excessive force by police? This article investigates the factors that shape public attitudes towards police brutality in Brazil. Employing regression analysis on survey data from 1,806 São Paulo inhabitants, the study assesses whether socio-structural, instrumental, and ideological factors and perceived legitimacy influence these attitudes. Our findings reveal that support for police use of excessive force is associated with demographic, ideological, and attitudinal elements, emphasising the impact of race, gender, authoritarian tendencies, and the view of the police as legitimate and efficient. The study underscores the imperative for a critical examination of the cultural and structural foundations of police violence endorsement.