Quem tem moral para falar?: As representações sociais de usuários do YouTube sobre as controvérsias morais emergentes no transcurso do governo Bolsonaro (2019-2022)

Abstract

The study carried out investigated the Social Representations of users of the YouTube channel by “Silas Malafaia Oficial” about moral controversies present in the Bolsonaro government (2019-2022), and adopted as a theoretical reference the Social Representations Theory (SRT), developed by Serge Moscovici, under the focus of Denise Jodelet's procedural approach. Bolsonaro was elected with massive support from the Brazilian protestant hegemony (leadership and members). Despite proposing a government without corruption, the years at Palácio do Planalto were turbulent, marked by a series of polemics and controversies that called into question religious morality and the incorruptibility of the government, as well as the maintenance of its supporters. Silas Malafaia, a minister of the protestant church called Assembleia de Deus Vitória em Cristo (ADVEC) and an ally of the former president, took an open stance on his YouTube channel reacting to the main news opposing the government. Given the facts, 5 political events of great impact for the government were selected - in the period from 2019 to 2023 - which led to the publication of (5) videos by Malafaia. The research data was extracted from the content of the videos and comments, with 300 comments for each video (total of 1,500). The material was analyzed in 3 different studies: the first addressed the transcribed content of the videos, subjected to lexical analysis using Descendant Hierarchical Classification (DHC), processed in the IRAMUTEQ software; the second and third steps addressed the content of the comments, one being a result of the DHC analysis and the other one a result of the application of the non-automated content analysis technique (BARDIN 1997). The studies highlighted the importance of protestants communication networks and the connection between traditional and digital media, for the expansion of their political project, highlighting the power of reach of the media and charismatic religious leadership (Silas Malafaia), as well as its ability to connect with the non-religious public, explained by the neoconservative ideological discourse; mainly in the context of shared hatred, linked to Labor Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores - PT) opposing parties and attacks on the press. The consensual and imaginary universe of spiritual warfare is the main tone of the “Bolsonarist” narrative, which presupposes the flexibility of morals, given the need to survive the “enemy’s attacks”. The basic representations of opposition to Malafaia's speech, from a religious perspective, are located in the biblical conception of scandal, sin and the love of money. The regret expressed by few users denotes the possibility of a change in position due to the clash of relevant beliefs. The changes were seen in cases of corruption scandals, but mainly in the recognition of Bolsonaro at a Freemasonry event. The cultural war that fuels the profusion of fake news creates a protective layer that prevents the entry of conflicting ideas, as described by Festinger's Cognitive Dissonance Theory (1962) currently applied.