The culture war embraced in the discourse of the new right: a case study on Nikolas Ferreira

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2236-4242.v39i1p13-35

Keywords:

Discourse, Culture War, Nikolas Ferreira, New-right

Abstract

This study addresses the rise and effectiveness of new-right discourses, which, exemplified by the actions of Federal Congressman Nikolas Ferreira (PL/MG), contribute to the polarization and weakening of democratic institutions. It assumes that the congressman deliberately uses strategies of moral panic and conspiratorial rhetoric, enhanced by digital platforms, to mobilize political sentiment. For methodological purposes, this is a case study using Critical Discourse Analysis (Fairclough, 2001; 2003) applied to a selection of videos published by the congressman on TikTok. It is observed that Nikolas effectively articulates narratives of “culture war” to create a moral divide and demonize opponents. Thus, TikTok acts as a catalyst, amplifying emotional and viral messages that spread fear. It has been demonstrated that this rhetoric is not only virtual but also underpins practices that threaten the security of institutions, converting online mobilization into tangible risks to Brazilian democracy.

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Author Biographies

  • Ana Flávia Pires Leal, Federal University of Sergipe

    Mestranda em Sociologia pela Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Brasil.

  • Alana Maria Passos Barreto, Federal University of Sergipe

    Doutoranda em Sociologia pela Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Brasil.

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Published

2026-04-30

Issue

Vol. 39 No. 1 (2026): Digital Discourse – Contemporary Challenges and Problems

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Ana Flávia Pires Leal, Alana Maria Passos Barreto

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How to Cite

LEAL, Ana Flávia Pires; BARRETO, Alana Maria Passos. The culture war embraced in the discourse of the new right: a case study on Nikolas Ferreira. Linha D’Água, São Paulo, v. 39, n. 1, p. 13–35, 2026. DOI: 10.11606/issn.2236-4242.v39i1p13-35. Disponível em: https://revistas.usp.br/linhadagua/article/view/241042. Acesso em: 8 may. 2026.