Kimberly Dudeck

Comprehensive Chapter Review

Chapter 14: Brazils Century?
Brazil has come a very long way in the last twenty years. The country has
overcome so many challenges and obstacles that were strategically placed in its way of
being seen as a stronger political, economical, and social icon to the rest of the world. In
the years to come, it is hard to say where Brazil will be on its claim to global power.
Although they have set an excellent example of the compatibility between progressive
social change, representative democracy, and the market economy (283), there are still
clear signs that the cycle of economic reform and social progress unleashed by the
establishment of democracy and by the Real Plan has run its course (283).
With the upcoming Rio Olympics, the countrys political leaders are not too
confident about how well the country will be running at that point in time. Their main
concerns regard complications with public transport. Ironically, this is something
Brazilian citizens run into problems with on a daily basis. After twelve years in office, the
PT no longer has any commendable thoughts on how to improve the countrys public
services or promote better infrastructure, and the corporate state has rendered the group
incapable of completing the demands of Brazils citizens (284). Although public
transport may not be one of the countrys strengths, it does have remarkable economic
power. The route of this supremacy is brought on by Brazils agriculture, oil, gas and
ethanol industries, as well as its advancements in the science and research world. Also,
the reforms of Cardoso and Lulas first government, together with the income from the

commodity boom, have endowed the country with stronger defenses against economic
turbulence in the wider world (284).
The biggest question Brazil faces is will they finally be recognized as a global
power during the twenty-first century. As I have previously mentioned in other chapters,
hope followed by disappointment is a common saying in Brazil, and rightfully so. Time
and time again, Brazil has continued to fall into slumps of low economic growth. It is
vital for the country to emerge from these depressions and proceed forward if it is to
continue the task of narrowing its still intolerable socio-economic inequalities and
providing opportunities to all its citizens (285). In 2013, the So Paulo manufacturers
lobby, more commonly known as FIESP, has set an enormous goal for Brazil to achieve
over the next fifteen years. They would like to double the countrys income per head to
US$22,000 and raise its health and education indicators to those of developed
countries (285). In order for Brazil to accomplish these astounding objectives, they must
encourage another structural reform aimed at refining the countrys productivity. This
accomplishment will not be possible without greater efforts towards improving schools
and infrastructure, as well as an increase in capital investment and savings.
The increasingly empowered citizens of Brazil are demanding more opportunities
and better services from the government in order to have a better quality of life, which
each and every one of them are entitled to. They want to live in a country of equality and
fairness, as opposed to one filled with discrimination and corruption. Although Brazil is
already a very impressive country, it has the potential to become a renowned nation of
utmost importance. I have so much hope for the countrys progress, and I know that with

the right leadership and government policies put in place, Brazil will finally reach its goal
of becoming a global power.