Polity
. Volume 42, Number 1 . January 2010
r 2010 Northeastern Political Science Association 0032-3497/10 www.palgrave-journals.com/polity/
Brazil, the Entrepreneurial and Democratic BRIC*
Leslie Elliott Armijo Portland State University Sean W. Burges University of Ottawa
By most objective metrics, Brazil is the least imposing of the ‘‘BRICs countries’’— less populous than China and India, slower-growing in recent years than China, India, or Russia, and the only member of the group lacking nuclear weapons. We argue that Brazil’s material capabilities are more significant than commonly supposed. Moreover, Brazil’s democratic transition in the mid-1980s, along with that of its neighbors, has for the first time enabled Brazil to
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We are important because of our deportment and, above all, our objectives.’’1 As a large democracy determined to steer a course independent of the major advanced industrial states that have dominated global politics since the mid-twentieth century, Brazil perhaps calls to mind the India of Jawaharlal Nehru in the 1950s and early 1960s. Nehru sought through the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to claim the moral high ground between what he viewed as two equally imperialist camps of Soviet Communism and Western capitalism. But a more appropriate heuristic might be Brazil as the new Canada, a close ally of the United States, with whom it shares liberal democracy and a capitalist economy.2 Brazil’s recent assertiveness around SouthSouth cooperation and rebalancing of representation in international organizations constitutes a bid for greater global influence, implicitly at the expense of
´ 1. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, ‘‘Discurso durante cerimonia em comemorac¸ao ao Dia do Diplomata,’’ ˆ ˜ ´ Palacio Itamaraty, Brasılia (7 May 2009), authors’ translation. ´ 2. Andrew Cohen, While Canada Slept: How We Lost Our Place in the World (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 2004).
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POLITY FORUM: Brazil — Entrepreneurial & Democratic BRIC
the traditional Western European powers, but does not threaten the values underpinning the liberal world political economy: Brazil is the quintessential ‘‘responsible stakeholder.’’3 Brazil pursues its aims of greater voice in global
The economy of Brazil is in the top ten largest economies along with the United States. It is the biggest in Latin America. Actually it is the seventh largest in the world. Brazil has used its newly found economic mechanism to syndicate its outcome in South America and show more of a role in the Global Businesses. The Obama Administration’s National Security Strategy recognizes Brazil as a developing center of effect, and greets the management of the country’s joint and global issues. The United States and Brazil associations mostly have been good in the recent years. But Brazil has other strengthening relations with neighboring countries and expanding ties with nontraditional partners in the South that’s developing.
American attitudes towards Latin America can be summed up as an extension of larger global directives, and the exclusion of foreign powers in the region. This was highlighted especially during the Cold War as US involvement was essentially in competition with the USSR. Latin America was therefore a mere pawn in the larger context of US-Soviet competition for global dominance. The actions and methods used are also characterized by the lack of an international authority, or an atmosphere of inter-state anarchy, which shaped their calculations in the endeavor to increase their influence over Latin America. When one analyzes the situation, it seems only rational that the United States treated its southern neighbors so, due to the geographical
The Vanguard of the Atlantic World by James Sanders seems to do little more than reiterate the concept that American republican modernity was debated by various countries located in Latin America in regards to their status as a united global political power. Not to say that these nations were united in terms of alliances, or treaties, but rather that some intellectuals adopted the concept of a “sisterhood” of republic democracies. The analysis of the political systems in Latin America after their independence from European nations is not where the disappointment lies, but rather the lack of context given to various components in his research that were supposed to show the transition of Latin America during its state of transformation from colonial territories to independent republican nations.
Throughout history, various peoples have been considered harsh, violent, and uncivilized. One empire well known for its either barbaric or kind nature, are the Mongols. Based on the documents, the attitudes of various people towards the Mongols in Eurasia from the 13th century to the 14th century were positive, neutral, and negative.
All three nations would deal with similarities and differences when it came to military forces working within their governments. When Brazil had first gained its independence from Portugal in 1822, Brazil had become a monarchy. The monarchy would only last until 1889, they would then switch over to a republican form of government. After that they would transition into a dictator, followed by several presidents who tried to steer the Brazilian government into a democracy. One president named Juscelino Kubitschek would continue to develop Brazil’s economy; however, his dreams would be very expensive. His successors would try to accomplish his goal for him but it would prove to put the nation into foreign debt and inflation would shoot up. The plan for a land reform did not sit well with many people, they did not support breaking up large estates to give to peasants. The army would then step in taking control of a military coup. For two decades the military would end up controlling Brazil. The generals would focus on economic growth as well as fostering foreign investments. The military would then begin to pour in extensively large investments into the Amazon jungle. The economy would then boom, but the government would cut back on wages and social programs. Henceforth, the standard of living would decline massively. After the government had imposed censorship, the hate of the military government grew quickly. A recession, slow down of the economy took place. After this event, the military generals would decide to step down and allow free
Inhabiting the Holy Roman Empire in the 16th century, the upper class considered peasants a mere subhuman. Conversely, Martin Luther, a German professor of theology, influenced reformation to the German state. This reformation focused on the peasants, especially the peasant revolt of 1524. As the revolution continued, the Peasant Parliament formed to coordinate activates and strive for optimistic results of the revolt. Consequently, peasants offered moderate reforms that were supported by the towns, but condemned by the nobility and the leading Protestant reformer, Martin Luther. This would be known as the largest uprising in Europe before the
From the perspective of Colombia, the Colombian government was desperate for foreign aid and international support. Accordingly, the leadership of Colombia was more than eager to permit the United States to become closely involved in the development of a Colombian public policy initiative, even if they risked losing other potential supporters and garnering international criticism (Carpenter, 2003). Also, the peoples of Colombia themselves were favoring a movement for change after more than
Every person is qualified to receive human rights, including the right to life, liberty, and security under Section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. There is a wide range of human rights and not every state/province can guarantee that there will be no violations against these rights. The principle of human rights declared that people need human rights, from the time that they are born no matter where they live. For instance, “Canadian mining corporations operating abroad, represent a challenge to international and Canadian legal human rights protection. Over 1,000 Canadian mining companies operate in more than 100 countries, making it difficult to effectively regulate corporations without violating each country’s sovereignty”. Canadian
During the early 1960s, Brazil entered a period of unrest caused by the military’s concern over the direction of government policies. The military’s concern rose toward the end of the 1950s due to the president’s perceived connection to communist world leaders. Prior to the Military Coup, the American government demanded that Brazil either move away from leftist policies or be forcefully changed. When Brazil did not comply, the United States, concerned that Brazil would join the communist block in South America, provided money and weapons to help the military overthrow the government. Although the Brazilian Military Coup of 1964 stimulated the Brazilian economy by investing more money into national growth, it was ultimately unsuccessful because
In his article, “The Future of the Liberal World Order”, John Inkenberry discusses what he sees as a global shift in power, from the Western and Northern powers such as the United States and Great Britain to the more Eastern and Southern developing states like China, India and Brazil. This potential shift in power has sparked a fear in many people. This fear, as the global power switches from West to East and North to South, stems from the thinking that these new nations that are coming to power will abolish the liberal world order that we all know. I however believe that instead of challenging the United States for power and changing the world order to more reflect their ideologies, these emerging nations will instead seek a greater position of leadership in the already existing world order. Firstly, I will provide an argument of Inkenberry’s main arguments and why realists’ have started to worry. Second, I will show how China is rising to threaten the United States superpower position in today’s world order, and finally I will illustrate ways which show that China is not challenging the Liberal World Order and why.
In the play “Macbeth”, William Shakespeare uses belief in the existence and power of witches to create and influence the audience’s understanding of the play. Our initial impression of Macbeth is one of a brave and capable warrior, however once we see his interaction with the three “evil sisters” (Shakespeare, 1996) we realises that his physical audacity is coupled by an intense amount of ambition and self doubt. It is believed that the witches are the motive behind this ambition which eventually leads to his tragedy, however strong diverging arguments are in existence. The intensity of Macbeth’s tragedy is dependent on whether or not the witches are “professed to be able to control the naïve, innocent Macbeth” or whether he is to blame
This case focuses on Brazil's development strategy since World War II and on the change of the economic model following the debt crisis of the 1980s. At the time of the case Brazilian officials are deciding whether regional integration or globalization offer the best route to economic prosperity and development. This case illustrates the challenges that developing countries face in defining trade policy. It also introduces the role of regional trade blocks as an alternative to globalization. At the current time regionalism seems to be very much in vogue and seems to be much more likely to be the basis for future trade system changes than comprehensive trade treaties.
The book, The Consolation of Philosophy, by Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius is an excellent story because the authors main point is that attaining the perfect five goods will make true happiness. When in fact these five goods are lacking and can easily lead to false happiness and melancholy. Boethius believes that true happiness is the state of perfection achieved by the concentration of all goods within it. He believed they were materialistic goods but, he was wrong. The perfect good for true happiness is God. Boethius uses conflict, tone, and imagery to convey his message of true happiness.
The process of integration of economies around the world, known as globalisation, has catalysed the development of Brazil as a powerful emerging economy, through the expansion of trade and investment. Emerging countries are defined as those progressing toward becoming more advanced, through rapid growth and industrialisation. Consequently, Brazil’s rapid economic growth has secured its place in BRICS, an association of five major emerging economies, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
I am now convinced that all five countries in Central America have, or will, face political and social issues, which will cause many revolutions. And with the continuing support of the United States, these countries will struggle to emerge as a fully independent state, until they decide to no longer accept aid from external forces. But then again, that is almost impossible. Somehow, the great power will always be in a position of authority over developing