Description
The first chance, after World War II, was blown by military rule that lasted 21 years, says Gordon, an assistant US ambassador to Brazil under Kennedy. He describes how the country, fifth largest population and ninth in economic output, is now slowly making its way toward the company of the country club countries. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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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.
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