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The Transition to Democratic Government in Brazil

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2011

Riordan Roett
Affiliation:
The Johns Hopkins University
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Abstract

Brazil experienced both economic prosperity and political repression in the 1970s. When the “miracle” faltered after the oil shocks, however, repression came to be viewed as neither politically effective nor conducive to further economic growth. Workers, whose incomes had risen during the “economic miracle,” began to seek political freedom as well. The church, a strong proponent of liberation theology, also played an important role by supporting the poor in their struggle. In addition, the elite pressured for liberalization when they perceived that their control over economic rewards was being eroded by increasing state domination of the economy.

The elite may now be more responsive to mass demands in order to preclude the return of military control. Their ability to respond will be largely determined by international factors over which Brazil has little influence.

Type
Review Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Trustees of Princeton University 1986

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References

1 See Roett, Riordan, “Democracy and Debt in South America: A Continent's Dilemma,” Foreign Affairs 62 (No. 3, 1983), 695720CrossRefGoogle Scholar, and , Roett, “Prospects for Atlantic Area Political and Security Relationships in the Wake of Economic Upheaval,” EUROPA ARCHIV 40, No. 5, March 10, 1985Google Scholar.

2 See the collection of essays in Feinberg, Richard E. and Kallab, Valeriana, eds., Adjustment Crisis in the Third World (New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Books, 1984)Google Scholar; Adjustment Crisis in the Third World (New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Books, 1984)Google Scholar, as well as the persuasive arguments of Furtado, Celso, No to Recession and Unemployment: An Examination of the Brazilian Economic Crisis (London: Third World Foundation, 1984)Google Scholar; No to Recession and Unemployment: An Examination of the Brazilian Economic Crisis (London: Third World Foundation, 1984)Google Scholar.

3 Tancredo Neves's incapacitation and unexpected death in 1985 diminished but by no means destroyed the popular support for the democratic government now led by President Jose Sarney.

4 See, for example, Stepan, Alfred, ed., Authoritarian Brazil: Origins, Policies, and Future (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1973)Google Scholar; Authoritarian Brazil: Origins, Policies, and Future (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1973)Google Scholar; Aguiar, Neuma, ed., The Structure of Brazilian Development (New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Books, 1979)Google Scholar; The Structure of Brazilian Development (New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Books, 1979)Google Scholar; and Bruneau, Thomas C. and Faucher, Philippe, eds., Authoritarian Capitalism: Brazil's Contemporary Economic and Political Development (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1981)Google Scholar; Authoritarian Capitalism: Brazil's Contemporary Economic and Political Development (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1981)Google Scholar.

5 Two recent books provide overviews of the performance of the Brazilian economy during these years: Baer, Werner, The Brazilian Economy: Growth and Development, 16. ed. (New York: Praeger Publishers, 1983)Google Scholar, and Tyler, William G., The Brazilian Industrial Economy (Lexington, MA: D. C. Heath, 1981)Google Scholar; The Brazilian Industrial Economy (Lexington, MA: D. C. Heath, 1981)Google Scholar. For a recent macroeconomic analysis of Brazil's economic performance, see Brazil: Economic Memorandum, a World Bank Country Study (Washington, DC: The World Bank, 1984)Google Scholar.

6 The dynamic of the political system in these years is well summarized in Flynn, Peter, Brazil: A Political Analysis (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1978)Google Scholar; Brazil: A Political Analysis (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1978)Google Scholar, esp. chaps. 9 to 11.

7 For a stimulating analysis of this period, see Dean, Warren, ed., Reflections on the Brazilian Counter-Revolution: Essays by Florestan Femandes (Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe, 1981)Google Scholar; Reflections on the Brazilian Counter-Revolution: Essays by Florestan Femandes (Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe, 1981)Google Scholar.

8 For background on the Brazilian labor movement, see Mericle, Kenneth S., “Corporatist Control of the Working Class: Authoritarian Brazil since 1964,” in Malloy, James M., ed., Authoritarianism and Corporatism in Latin America (Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1977). 303-38Google Scholar.

9 , Bruneau, The Political Transformation of the Brazilian Catholic Church (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1974)Google Scholar; The Political Transformation of the Brazilian Catholic Church (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1974)Google Scholar.

10 For a liberation theology perspective, see , Leonardo and Boff, Clodovis, Salvation and Liberation: In Search of a Balance between Faith and Politics, trans. Barr, Robert R. (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1984)Google Scholar.

11 Bruneau develops the CEB theme (especially for Brazil), in “Basic Christian Communities in Latin America: Their Nature and Significance” in Levine, Daniel H., ed., Churches and Politics in Latin America (Beverly Hills, CA: Sage, 1980)Google Scholar; Churches and Politics in Latin America (Beverly Hills, CA: Sage, 1980), 225-37Google Scholar.