War Memes and Brazilian National Politics

This article adopts the theoretical framework of memetic warfare and International Relations (IR), applying a qualitative, interpretive case study to a curated dataset of 192 memes circulated in pro-Bolsonaro WhatsApp groups in Brazil. These visual artefacts are examined as discursive tools that reframe global events - most notably the 2022 war in Ukraine - within national political cultures. The findings reveal how memes have been mobilised to construct political identities, reinforce authoritarian populist narratives, and disseminate disinformation. By analysing how international crises are appropriated to shape domestic discourse, the article contributes to IR by highlighting the role of digital media in political communication and opinion formation, particularly in the Global South.

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Autoria: João Paulo Nicolini, Viktor Chagas e Ricardo Fabrino Mendonça

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NICOLINI, J. P.; CHAGAS, V.; MENDONÇA, R. F. War Memes and Brazilian National Politics. Contexto Internacional, v. 47, n. 3, e20240023, 2025.