The Brazilian left and its fetishes

Every now and then - but especially during the campaign season - one subject resurfaces: the way left-leaning parties in Brazil position themselves on authoritarian regimes they identify as "progressive," "socialist," or "communist." Leaders of these parties are often obliged to take a stance on such regimes.

Why, many voters ask, do these parties have such a favorable view of Cuba's dictatorship, the Venezuelan spiral into hell, and the authoritarian rise in Nicaragua?

These are, after all, the left-wing voices that so vociferously denounce the atrocities of Brazil's military dictatorship, Israel's abuses against Palestine, and American militarism worldwide.

This is not a new problem - nor is it exclusive to the left. However, it affects the left more profoundly.