Brazil's Second Chance: En Route toward the First World (Century Foundation Books (Brookings Hardcover))

" Brazil is currently in a critical phase of a decades-long transformation from a patrimonial society--based on the cultivation and export of sugar and coffee--to a modernized industrial and service economy with effective democratic governance. It is the world's fifth largest nation-state in area and population, and ranks eighth in total economic output. Since World War II, Brazil has been a leader in international trade governance and negotiation, playing an important part in development of the GATT and the WTO. Currently, the country is a major factor in negotiations toward a hemispherewide Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). However, Brazil's political record in the past half century has been erratic and it has struggled with high inflation and balance-of-payment deficits. In this major new work, a former American ambassador to Brazil examines the social, political, and economic history of the country since the 1930s and discusses whether Brazil is now ready to assume a place as an important participant among First World nations. " Brazilians Have Always Envisioned For Their Nation A Future Of Greatness On The World Stage. Now, After Two Centuries Of Independent Statehood, Brazil Appears To Be Making Great Strides Toward First World Status. Since The 1950s, This Largest Of The South American Countries Has Evolved From A Patrimonial Society - Based Mainly On The Cultivation And Export Of Sugar And Coffee - Toward A Modernized Industrialized And Service Economy With Effective Democratic Governance. In This New Work, A Political Economist And Former U.s. Ambassador To Brazil Examines The Social, Political, And Economic History Of The Country Since The 1950s And Discusses Whether Brazil Is Ready To Assume A Place Among First World Nations. Drawing On His Own Long-term Professional And Personal Relationship With Brazil, Lincoln Gordon Evaluates The Country's Future Prospects Through The Lens Of History And Policy. He Traces Brazil's Development Efforts Over The Past Fifty Years, Highlighting Significant Missteps As Well As Successes. Gordon Identifies Four Key Policy Challenges That Brazil Must Address: Consolidation Of Macroeconomic Stability, Poverty Reduction, Active Engagement In The Global Economy, And Political Reform.--jacket. The Goal: Genuine First World Status -- The First Chance: What Went Wrong? -- Structural Change Under The Military Republic -- The Incomplete Transformation: Economic Structures -- The Social Dimension -- The Political Structure -- From Debt And Drift To Real--and Stability? -- Brazil And The World -- The Prospects. Lincoln Gordon. A Century Foundation Book. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Brazilians have always envisioned for their nation a future of greatness on the world stage. Now, after two centuries of independent statehood, Brazil appears to be making great strides toward first world status. Since the 1950s, this largest of the South American countries has evolved from a patrimonial society - based mainly on the cultivation and export of sugar and coffee - toward a modernized industrialized and service economy with effective democratic governance.". "In this new work, a political economist and former U.S. ambassador to Brazil examines the social, political, and economic history of the country since the 1950s and discusses whether Brazil is ready to assume a place among first world nations. Drawing on his own long-term professional and personal relationship with Brazil, Lincoln Gordon evaluates the country's future prospects through the lens of history and policy. He traces Brazil's development efforts over the past fifty years, highlighting significant missteps as well as successes. Gordon identifies four key policy challenges that Brazil must address: consolidation of macroeconomic stability, poverty reduction, active engagement in the global economy, and political reform."--BOOK JACKET. Contents 16 1 The Goal: Genuine First World Status 20 2 The First Chance: What Went Wrong? 54 3 Structural Change under the Military Republic 91 4 The Incomplete Transformation: Economic Structures 122 5 The Social Dimension 139 6 The Political Structure 160 7 From Debt and Drift to Real—and Stability? 182 8 Brazil and the World 213 9 The Prospects 240 Index 250 A 250 B 250 C 251 D 252 E 252 F 253 G 254 H 254 I 254 J 256 K 256 L 256 M 256 N 257 O 258 P 258 Q 259 R 259 S 260 T 261 U 261 V 262 W 262 The goal: genuine First World status The first chance: what went wrong? Structural change under the military republic The incomplete transformation: economic structures The social dimension The political structure From debt and drift to Real and stability? Brazil and the world The prospects. Explores economic, social and political developments in Brazil from the 1950s to the 1990s and discusses whether the country is ready to assume a place among first world nations. Identifies key policy changes to be addressed