Federative Republic of Brasil

Background  Area – 8,511,965 sq km 5 th largest 9 th economy  People 186 million, 1.1% growth rate, 74% Roman Catholic, primary language Portuguese (European immigrants).  Government Federative Republic, independence 1822, current constitution  Economy billion (GDP) trillion purchasing power parity Growth rate 2.4%

People  Largest population in LA, 5 th 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 16 th 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.  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 2/3 rds ).  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  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 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, 3/5 ths national wealth), South.