Prestige Over Policy

The Olympic Games are supposed to bring international prestige to host countries, if all goes well. But Rio 2016 is an example of a government placing desire for prestige before sound policy, says Phil Chicola, the former Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Brasília, Brazil (2005-2006). The Cipher Brief’s Kaitlin Lavinder spoke with Chicola, who is now a professor at Florida State University, about what happens when the Games end.

The Cipher Brief: Suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment trial begins after the Rio Games end. What is the likelihood of her removal from office – could we see 13 years of Workers’ Party (PT) rule soon come to an end?