Brazil is one of the most important but puzzling countries in the
world. A nation of 200 million people, it has vast natural resource
reserves, rich cultural traditions, a middle class undergoing
explosive growth, and social welfare policies that are models for
much of the world ('la bolsa familia,' which provides a guaranteed
income to poor families). And, after decades of authoritarian rule,
it is a stable democracy. Yet it is beset by problems that no other
advanced economy suffers from: staggeringly high crime rates,
sky-high inequality levels, and endemic political corruption.
Emblematic of these two sides of Brazil is the selection of Rio as
site of both the next Summer Olympics and the next World Cup. While
the choice of Rio for these events points to Brazil's expanding
presence on the world stage, so far the construction and planning
for the events have been disastrous, threatening to deeply
embarrass the nation. In Brazil: What Everyone Needs to Know,
Riordan Roett, an eminent scholar of Brazil and Latin America, will
provide a rich overview of Brazil, covering Brazilian society,
politics, culture, and the economy. The book begins with a series
of chapters on Brazilian history, beginning with the pre-colonial
period and moving on, in succession, to the long era of Portuguese
rule, the birth of independent Brazil, the emergence of modern
Brazil in the 1930s, the era of the dictators, and - finally - to
the democratic regime that came into being in the 1980s. Throughout
the book, Roett will focus sharply on the fault lines - racial,
economic, political, and cultural - that have plagued Brazil from
its beginnings to this day. As the 2016 World Cup and Summer
Olympics approach, interest in Brazil is sure to rise. Roett's
synthesis will provide interested readers with an accessible,
authoritative overview of this troubled yet fascinating giant.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
