Federative Republic of Brasil

Background Area – 8,511,965 sq km

5th largest 9th economy

People 186 million, 1.1% growth rate,

74% Roman Catholic, primary language Portuguese (European immigrants).

Government Federative Republic,

independence 1822, current constitution 1988.

Economy 619.7 billion (GDP) 1.579 trillion purchasing power

parity Growth rate 2.4%

People Largest population in LA, 5th largest in the world.

Population centers are in South/central region. 81% of population urban Major cities: Sao Paolo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte

Diverse ethnic and cultural heritage: Portuguese (colonizers 16th C) Africans Other Europeans Tupi and Guarani speaking indigenous Intermarriage common Class distinctions - strong national identification low racial conflict Largest population of Japanese outside Japan in Sao Paolo

Colonization 1500 Pedro Alvares Cabral 1808 Dom Joao VI – Rio de Janeiro 1821 Dom Joao VI returns to Portugal 1822 Dom Pedro I (son) declares independence. 1831-89 Dom Pedro II (son) rules 1888 slavery abolished by Regent Princess Isabel. 1889 Dom Pedro II overthrown in coup – federal

republic established.

Political Institutions Federalism in Brasil:

Central government (the union) Federal District – elects governor and District

Assembly (Brasilia) State governments (26)

Governor, lieutenant governor, and representatives to unicameral state legislatures

Local governments (Municipios 5,513) Mayor, vice mayor, local councils ranging in

membership from 9-21 unless council for a city larger than 1 million in population then councils are much larger.

Executive Presidential Democracy

President Head of State and Head of Government Luis Inácio Lula da Silva (2002) President and Vice President elected on joint slate 4 year terms with one re-election Powers include legislative, budgetary, emergency

decree.

Legislature National Congress “Balanced bicameralism”

Both have power to initiate legislation No clear domination of one over other

Senate (81) – 3 senators per state and Federal District; staggered 8 year terms (every 4 years for 1/3 and 2/3rds).

Chamber of Deputies (513) – from all states and FD. Size of state wide delegation based on population with min/max 8-70.

Judiciary Courts constitutional mandates/rules

30 year service or age 70 limit Competitive election, promotion by seniority and merit

Supreme Court (11 – nominated by president, approved by Senate)

Superior Court of Justice (33 - nominated by president, approved by Senate)

Federal Appeals Courts (regional) Labor Courts

Created in 1943 mediates between workers and employers (public and private) Electoral Courts

1932 check on election corruption Military courts

No civilian jurisdiction State Courts

Enforce state constitutions/laws

Electoral Systems Three systems Executives (President, Governors, Mayors >

200,000) Majority vote with runoff if no majority in first round.

Senators and Mayors of Cities (<200,000) First past the post (plurality rules).

Legislatures/councils Open list-proportional representation w/multi-member

districts. Voters can influence candidate selection.

2002 Elections: A Dangerous Shift to the Left? Reasons for Lula selection:

Referendum on Cardoso administration Urban (and south) liberals versus rural (north)

conservatives. Age gap (youth – liberal) Lula’s voters disillusioned middle class

Outcome: Worker’s party gained status as the largest delegation to the Congress – 18% of the total (594 – 513 and 81).

Economics: Neo-liberalism or Social Democracy? The political-economic philosophy de-emphasizing/rejecting

government intervention in the domestic economy. Domestic focus: free-market, few restrictions on business, and property

rights. International focus: opening foreign markets (using economic pressure,

diplomacy, and/or military intervention). Brasilian governmental steps

Sold state corporations, deregulated, removed tariffs, removed restrictions on DFI (long term investment by a foreign investor in enterprise resident in an economy other than that in which the foreign direct investor is based).

Government spending as percent of GDP higher than NL, with increases in health and education (social democratic economic policy?)

Successes and Failures: Economics

1968-1974 Brazilian military directed economic industrial shift. Attracted DFI GNP doubled Annual economic growth 11%

1974 OPEC embargo crippled Brazil (80% dependent on foreign oil).

Military Government response: Foreign borrowing 1975 Pro-Alcohol program

Negative interest loans to agribusiness Outcomes:

Indebtedness/inflation until 1994 – Real Plan (neo-liberal reforms) Ethanol only (1980) cars to Flex Fuel (2006)

Successes and Failures: Income and Education Income inequality severe

Wealthiest 10% command 52% of income. Poorest 20% command 2% of income.

81% of Brazilians have television but 13% are illiterate.

Only 27 million of 63 million workers pay into the state social security system.

Labor force participation: Women: 44% are economically active. Half total work 40-48 hours/week. Quarter of total work more than 49 hours/week.

Successes and Failures: Diversity and Discrimination Uneven economic development across regions Class stratification by race and region

Black 6% 39% mixed race:

Parda/mulata (black-white) Mestica/mameluca (white-indigenous) Cafuza (black-indigenous) Indigenous

Asian (less than 1%) Regional underdevelopment:

Northeast (poorest, 28% of pop), North and Center-West (underdeveloped, rainforest, low population), Southeast (most developed, 43% pop, 3/5ths national wealth), South.