Understanding Contemporary Brazil - book by Jeff Garmany and Anthony W. Pereira

Understanding contemporary Brazil

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Understanding Contemporary Brazil

Jeff Garmany and Anthony W. Pereira

Routledge, London, 2018, ISBN 9781138039339

Brazil has famously been called a country of contradictions. It is a place where narratives of "racial democracy" exist in the face of stark inequalities, and where the natural environment is celebrated as a point of national pride, but at the same time is exploited at alarming rates. To people on the outside looking in, these contradictions seem hard to explain. Understanding Contemporary Brazil tackles these problems head-on, providing the perfect critical introduction to Brazil's ongoing social, political, economic, and cultural complexities. 

Key topics include:

- National identity and political structure.

- Economic development, environmental contexts, and social policy.

- Urban issues and public security.

- Debates over culture, race, gender, and spirituality.

- Social inequality, protest, and social movements.

- Foreign diplomacy and international engagement.

By considering more broadly the historical, political economic, and socio-cultural roots of Brazil's internal dynamics, this interdisciplinary book equips readers with the contextual understanding and critical insight necessary to explore this fascinating country. Written by renowned authors at one of the world's most important centers for the study of Brazil, Understanding Contemporary Brazil is ideal for university students and researchers, yet also accessible to any reader.

1. Introduction 1
2. National identity and nation building 12
3. Political structure and government 33
4. Economic development and social policy 58
5. Race and ethnicity in Brazil 84
6. Urban Brazil today 101
7. Social movements and protest in Brazil 121
8. Environmental contexts and challenges 143
9. Culture and spirituality 163
10. Foreign policy and international diplomacy 185
11. Soccer in Brazil 208

Afterword 227

Index 231