The Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI) held the first debate of the Political Economy Program this Thursday with the topic "Radical Liberalism and the Need for Alternatives". The opening of the event was attended by Josué Gomes da Silva, President of the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp), a partner entity of the new CEBRI Program. The president of the CEBRI Board of Trustees, José Pio Borges, Trustee André Lara Resende, and Senior Fellows Leonardo Burlamaqui and Rogério Studart also participated in the webinar.

According to the president of Fiesp, "radical liberalism has evolved, but it became radicalized both on the right and on the left. In the case of the right, with the minimal state and, on the left, with liberalization and the individual overlapping the collective. What we are seeing emerging as an alternative to radical liberalism are autocratic and populist governments and that does not interest us," he stressed. Gomes da Silva suggested the debate of alternatives to liberalism is important in order to "save liberalism from itself".

Rogério Studart, CEBRI Senior Fellow, highlighted how radical liberalism impacted Brazil: "It is an extreme case, where radical economic liberalism has had the most impact. There was a drop in investments, especially in infrastructure and technology. The country has seen hunger as well as health and energy insecurity grow. Deforestation and environmental destruction, in addition to an uneven international insertion, are also consequences of some recent manifestations of this model."

Studart warned that the country's future is worrying: "The ability to think about recovery and growth is concerning, especially with regard to sustainable development," he said. "The need for alternatives is evident. Brazil has failed to combat inequalities, in terms of both the environment and health. The economic decline was an obstacle to the success of liberalism in the country", added the leader of the Political Economy Program, André Lara Resende.

Leonardo Burlamaqui, CEBRI Senior Fellow, argued that the state is responsible for solving problems of collective interest. "The problems are complex and of collective interest. They cut across public power and society. It is up to the state to think about what it can do to be part of the solution and not part of the problem."