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Brazil at a Glance Ranking fifth among the world's most populated countries, the population of Brazil amounts to 50 million families or approximately 180 million inhabitants (2004), the majority - 81% - in urban areas. The national birth rate, which reached as high as 6.3 in 1960, currently stands at 2.1 children per female. The result of this decline, which can be associated to an improvement in social indicators and consequently in quality of life, will be a population whose majority of citizens will be aged between 15 and 44 years within the next four decades. This will represent one of the largest job and consumer markets among the countries on the American continent. Diversified Economy Brazil accounts for three fifths of the South American economy's industrial production and integrates various economic groups, such as Mercosur, G-22 and the Cairns Group. The country's scientific and technological development, together with a dynamic and diversified industrial sector, is attractive to foreign enterprise: direct investment was in the region of US$ 20 billion /year on average, compared to US$ 2 billion/year last decade. Brazil trades regularly with over one hundred nations, with 74% of exports represented by manufactured or semimanufactured goods. Its main partners are: the EEC (representing 26% of the balance), the US (24%), Mercosur and Latin America (21%) and Asia (12%). One of the most dynamic sectors in this trade scenery is the so-called "agrobusiness" sector, which for two decades has kept Brazil amongst the most highly productive countries in areas related to the rural sector. The owner of a sophisticated technological sector, Brazil develops projects that range from submarines to aircraft and is involved in space research: the country possesses a Launching Center for Light Vehicles and was the only country in the Southern Hemisphere to integrate the team responsible for the construction of the International Space Station-the ISS. A pioneer in the field of deep water oil research, from where 73% of its reserves are extracted, Brazil was the first capitalist country to bring together the ten largest car assembly companies inside its national territory. History Revolutions per minute The history of the last century can also be seen as one of conflict between liberal democracy and totalitarianism. In Brazil, the 1930 Revolution established a new model for industrial and urban development, unfolding the so-called Vargas Period, characterized by populism, nationalism, demands for labor rights and a strong incentive towards industrialization. Later, the country still went on to exist for twenty years under a military regime and was governed by six constitutions. Exodus and Transformation For Brazil, the 20th century was also a period of profound transformation. The country underwent one of the fastest urbanization processes in modern history. In 1950, rural areas housed almost 70% of the population, and nowadays speaks for little over 20%. This speedy rural exodus, which lasted until the early 1990s, was almost brought to a halt from 1995. The country has registered one of the highest birth rates on the planet. Between 1901 and 2000, the population went from 17.4 million to 169.6 million; GDP was multiplied a hundredfold; per capita GDP grew 12 times; and life expectancy leapt from 33.4 years in 1910 to 64.8 years at the end of the century. We are still faced, nevertheless, with the challenge of promoting a fairer income distribution, in an attempt to reduce poverty and social exclusion. 1889-1930 The precedent for the Vaccination Uprising,
a popular movement against compulsory vaccination, was the remodelling
of the city of Rio de Janeiro, where Mayor Pereira Passos ejected the
poverty-stricken inhabitants from the colonial city center, substituted
by the modern Avenida Central (Central Avenue), inspired on the Parisian
model by the Baron of Hausmann. With the "Old Republic", ruled
by an agrarian elite, in crisis and on its last legs, industry, on the
contrary, was giving out positive signals for the economy and society.
This was the period when the first labor strikes, of anarchic tendencies,
were held, and severely repressed by the federal government, who treated
the social topic as a "police matter". Consolidation of the movement known as
"Tenentismo", which, led by Lieutenants, reflected the dissatisfaction
of the military classes and the demand of the middle classes for increased
participation. Realization of the Modern Arts Week, in
February, where Brazilian authors and artists propose the renovation of
a culture dominated by Europe-oriented and old-fashioned values. The 1930 Revolution instituted a new model
for industrial and urban development in Brazil. The adoption of this model
was brought about by the consequences, in Brazil, of the 1929 crash, which
was responsible for the collapse in the price of coffee and other Brazilian
export products. A period marked by the centralized and
authoritarian government of President Getúlio Vargas, characterized
by populism, nationalism, demands for labor rights and a strong incentive
towards industrialization. The "New State" officially institucionalized
the dictatorial regime, in force since 1930. The Constitution of 1937,
inspired on Italian fascism, derisively nicknamed "polaca" (Polack),
was elaborated to be a Charter that was "free from the shackles of
liberal democracy", in the words of the man responsible for its elaboration,
Justice Minister Francisco Campos. Urbanization of the major capital cities
in the Southeast of Brazil, arising from industrialization and rural migration
towards urban centers. The torpedoing of five vessels of the Brazilian
Merchant Navy and increasing popular pressure, obliged the Brazilian government
to join forces with the U.S.A; the Brazilian Expeditionary Forces (FEB)
were then formed, and troops were sent to fight beside the allied forces. With the tide of democracy sweeping post-war
Brazil, Getúlio Vargas organized the parties by decree and under
strict control; the two biggest parties, the Social Democratic Party (PSD)
and the Brazilian Labor Party (PTB), articulated a national alliance that
was to last for fifteen years. In the first elections held after the war,
Eurico Gaspar Dutra, of the PDS party, was sworn in as president of Brazil. In 1946, the National Constitutional Convention
was established, which elaborated a new Constitution that reestablished
individual rights, abolished the death penalty, restored autonomy to the
states and municipalities with independence for the three branches of
Power - Legislative, Judiciary and Executive, and established direct presidential
elections, for a five-year term of office. Under strong pressure from the Cold War,
Brazil outlawed the Brazilian Communist Party (PCB), canceled the license
of its political representatives, closed down the General Workers' Confederation
(CGT), intervened in hundreds of unions and broke off diplomatic relations
with the U.S.S.R. Getúlio Vargas, elected President
with the PTB party, carried on the nationalist, populist and pro-industrial
policies: he submitted to Congress the project for the creation of Petrobras
(company responsible for the oil sector); relaxed relations with the unions
by permitting the Strike of the "Three Hundred Thousand"; created
the National Bank for Economic Development (BNDE) and limited to 10% the
remittance of profits overseas. Vargas' policies provoked the reaction
by the conservative opposition, led by the National Democratic Union (UDN).
With the words "I leave this life to enter history", President
Vargas committed suicide, being substituted by Vice-President João
Café Filho. Juscelino Kubitschek (JK), winner in the
presidential elections with the PSD party, elaborated the Target Plan
and consolidated the Pro-Development Model. JK submits to National Congress the project
for the construction of Brasília, the new Brazilian capital, in
the very center of the country. The military seize power, and by way of
an institutional act, start to persecute anybody who is considered a threat
to the regime. The sixth Brazilian Constitution is elaborated,
institutionalizing the military regime. General Artur da Costa e Silva
dissolves the Ample Front, a political movement led by former presidents
João Goulart and JK and by Guanabara State ex-governor Carlos Lacerda.
The death of student Edson Luís,
during a student protest, mobilized students and members of the public,
who, with support from the Catholic Church, carried out the "March
of the Hundred Thousand". At the same time, strikes are held in the
towns of Contagem and Osasco, and there is news of armed fighting in places.
The regime reacts harshly, closing down National Congress and implementing
Institutional Act nº 5, which institutionalizes repression. The General Garrastazu Médici government,
considered the most brutal period of the military dictatorship in Brazil,
also known as the "leaden years". The economic area is characterized
by projects of pharaonic proportions, such as the construction of the
Transamazonian Highway, unfinished to this day, which invaded land belonging
to indigenous people and caused environmental degradation. Civil company members start to act; intelectuals
and scholars severely criticize the regime at the SBPC (Brazilian Congress
for Scientific Progress); and the popular movements demanded improved
conditions for those living in urban centers. General Ernesto Geisel takes over the Presidency
and entrusts General Golbery do Couto e Silva with outlining a slow, gradual
and safe transition process of political openness. Considered the lost decade within the economic
sphere, it was the decade of rediscovery in the political sense: a) in
the elections for governor, in 1982, opposition candidates, of the MDB
party, emerged triumphant in the main metropolitan centers of Brazil;
b) Brazilian society sprang into action, taking to the streets in every
one of the state capitals, demanding direct elections for President, in
the movement known as "Diretas Já". Conclusion of the first phase of the Democratic
Transition in Brazil, with the departure from government by the military,
after 21 years. Tancredo Neves is (indirectly) elected, but dies before
he is able to take office, and Vice-President José Sarney is inaugurated
as the new President. The New Republic, on a political sphere,
marked the consolidation of democratic breakthrough, in the longest transition
period in Latin America. Socially speaking, it represented the toning
down of repression, by allowing long-awaited and repressed demands to
be expressed. In economic terms, the period is characterized by rampant
inflation and the "Cruzado Plan", the first (unsuccessful) attempt
at stabilizing the currency. Opening of the National Constitutional
Convention and proclamation of the 1988 Constitution. The first direct elections for President
take place, with the second round of voting being contended by Fernando
Collor de Mello and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, of the Workers'
Party (PT). The winning candidate, Fernando Collor,
starts his administration by confiscating all current and savings accounts
in Brazilian society and introduces an ambitious economic stabilization
program, the "Collor Plan". The collapse of the Plan sees the
return of rampant inflation and the deepening of the recession, ever-present
since the previous decade. Accused by his brother of involvement in
a corruption scam, the President is investigated by a Parliamentary Inquiry
Committee (CPI). At the same time, the "painted-face warriors"
take to the streets calling for Collor's impeachment. He is relieved of
his position by Congress, and the President's seat is taken over by Vice-President
Itamar Franco. New president Itamar Franco nominates senator
Fernando Henrique Cardoso Minister of Finance; the Real Plan is created,
in an attempt to stabilize the currency. In the elections of that year,
which once again are decided in the second round, the confrontation is
between Luíz Inácio da Silva of the PT and Fernando Henrique
Cardoso (FHC), of the PSDB, who is voted into office. In order to consolidate economic stability
and put a stop to the State's fiscal crisis, brought about by internal
and foreign debt, constitutional reforms were carried out. At the same
time, monopolies were brought to an end in various sectors, such as oil,
telecommunications, gas pipelines and coastwise shipping. Fernando Henrique Cardoso is reelected
for a further four years in office. Brazil celebrates 500 years of Discovery.
2002 Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, of the Labor Party (PT), was elected with 52.79 million votes (61.2% of valid votes), in the second round of the elections. On taking office, he was faced with evasion of capital, increasing inflation and a public debt rate corresponding to 63% of Gross Domestic Product, factors which compromised the efforts to stabilize the Brazilian currency, the Real. |