Amazon.com: Brazil: Culture And Politics In A New Industrial Powerhouse (Nations of the Modern World - Latin America): Ronald M. Schneider: Books

Product Description

Myths and misconceptions about Brazil, the world’s fifth largest and most populous country, are long-standing. Far from a sleeping giant, Brazil is the southern hemisphere’s most important country. Entering its second decade of civilian constitutional government after a protracted period of military rule, it has also recently achieved sustained economic growth. Nevertheless, the nation’s population of 157 million is divided by huge inequities in income and education, which are largely correlated with race, and crime rates have spiraled as a result of conflicts over land and resources.Ronald Schneider, a close observer of Brazilian society and politics for many decades, provides a comprehensive multidimensional portrait of this, Latin America’s most complex country. He begins with an insightful description of its diverse regions and, then analyzes the historical processes of Brazil’s development from the European encounter in 1500 to independence in 1822, the middle-class revolution in 1930, the military takeover in 1964, and the return to democracy after 1984. Schneider goes on to offer a detailed treatment of contemporary government and politics, including the 1994 elections. His closing chapters explore Brazil’s rich cultural heritage and assess Brazil’s place in the international arena.

About the Author

Ronald M. Schneider is professor of political science at Queens College, City University of New York.

Product Details

Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Westview Press (February 15, 1996)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0813324378
ISBN-13: 978-0813324371
Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,368,926 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
BRAZIL IS A VAST, triangular country facing the Atlantic Ocean on the east, bounded on the west and south by five neighbors and by five others to the north (see Map 1). Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
moderating power, presidential sweepstakes, institutional act

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, United States, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande, World War, Chamber of Deputies, Latin American, Castelo Branco, Catholic Church, Estado Novo, Mato Grosso, Santa Catarina, South American, Espirito Santo, Cruzado Plan, Federal District, North American, Porto Alegre, Adhemar de Barros, Belo Horizonte, Democratic Alliance, Republican Party, Santos Andrade, Campos Salles

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 58 books:

State and Society in Brazil: Continuity and Change (Westview Special Studies on Latin America and the Caribbean) by John D. Wirth in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
Modern Brazil: Elites and Masses in Historical Perspective (Latin American Studies) by Michael L. Conniff in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
Vidas Secas. Incluye Las Cronicas ""A Proposito de la Sequia"" y ""Norte y Sur (Spanish Edition) by Graciliano Ramos on page 196, and page 200
Rethinking Military Politics by Alfred C. Stepan in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
Democratizing Brazil: Problems of Transition and Consolidation by Alfred Stepan in Back Matter

See all 58 books this book cites

7 books cite this book:

Father of the Poor?: Vargas and his Era (New Approaches to the Americas) by Robert M. Levine on page 13, page 79, and Back Matter
The History of Brazil (The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations) by Robert M. Levine on page 29, and page 195
Legacies of Liberation: The Progressive Catholic Church in Brazil at the Start of a New Millennium by John Burdick in Front Matter, and Back Matter
Fat: The Anthropology of an Obsession by Don Kulick in Back Matter
The History of Brazil (Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations) by Prof. Robert M. Levine in Back Matter

See all 7 books citing this book

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4.0 out of 5 stars Concise, August 14, 2002

By	Leonardo Alves (Houghton, Michigan USA) - See all my reviews

Conciseness is at the same time the best and the worst characteristic of Schneider's book. The first 88 pages are a very fast paced summary of Brazil geography and history up to 1964. The first chapter on Brazil regions is important but very badly written. Not only most of the Portuguese names are misspelled but the kind of information begs for tables and thematic maps. The only three tables presented in the entire book are hideous.

Conciseness can easily slip to oversimplification and there are some connections the book tries to make to what I cannot agree. One example is the statement that the party structure during the Empire period (mid 19th century) still remains. Another example of exaggeration is when the author calls the 1994 presidential election the most complicated and important in the whole New World History.

On the positive side Schneider is very competent in pinpoint the main problems that haunt Brazil. The gross congressional under representation of the most populated states, the paternalistic approach to the role of the State, the Brazilian dream of a messianic leader, the chaotic party structure and the idea that the law is a burden and people should just try to be reasonable.

Outstanding is the chapter on Brazilian culture, especially the section on literature and interpersonal relations where terms such as pistolao, panelinha, parentela, jeitinho as well as the "do you know whom are you speaking to" approach are explained. Noteworthy also is the section on racial relations.

The good part of the book is 130 pages long (pages 89 till 218). The first 88 pages don't really add to the book and may scare the less patient reader. My suggestion to the author is to get rid of it and create a really concise 130 pages book. The other idea is to expand the first 88 pages loosing the conciseness. It's a tough call but the way the book is and considering that it costs [price] I would rather buy Skidmore's Brazil: Five Centuries of Change plus Page's The Brazilians. The two will set you back [price] but you'll enjoy over 800 pages of Brazil and the Brazilians.

Leonardo Alves - Tucson, Arizona - August 2002

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