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Brazil

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Brazil, officially known as the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country both on the South American continent and in the entire Latin American region.  By total geographic area and population, Brazil is the world’s fifth-largest country.  It is also the world’s largest Portuguese-speaking nation in the world and the only one in the Americas.

Occupying nearly 50 percent of South America, Brazil borders nearly every other country on the continent, the only two exceptions being Ecuador and Chile.  It is bordered by Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and the French region of French Guiana to the north; Colombia to the northwest; Bolivia and Peru to the west; Argentina and Paraguay to the southwest; and Uruguay to the south.  The country has an enormous coastline measuring some 4,600 miles (7491 km), formed by the Atlantic Ocean, which lies to Brazil’s east.  Brazilian territory also includes a number of archipelagos, such as Fernando de Noronha; Rocas Atoll; Saint Peter and Paul Rocks; and Trinidad and Martim Vaz.

Brief History of Brazil

Urubici, Santa Catarina, BrazilBrazil was officially “discovered” in the first year of the 16 century (1500), when a fleet led by Pedro Alvares Cabral, a Portuguese diplomat destined for India, landed in Porto Seguro, between what is now Salvador and Rio de Janeiro.

Met by the Tupinambo Indians, one of many native Amerindian groups in the region, the early colonists, by order of the Portuguese government, began harvesting Brazil’s vast supply of pau-brasil, the redwood trees that gave the country its name.  Pau-brasil was valuable to the Portuguese for its dye-making properties.  Initially, the Indians are thought to have willingly helped the colonists in their harvesting duties, but when the latter attempted to enslave the Indians, most of them fled and a great majority of the rest died of European diseases.  Finally, to supplement their workforce, the colonists turned to the African slave trade.

For 200 years following Cabral’s discovery, the Portuguese had to occasionally cope with foreign powers intent on exploiting Brazil’s vast supply of natural resources.  Portugal entered into a treaty with Spain designed to set the boundaries for each country in their newly discovered lands, but the terms of that treaty were very vague and boundary disputes often surfaced.  Additionally, countries such as England, France and Holland did not completely recognize the treaty, which was formed by Papal decree, and thus they aggressively sought the new lands for themselves.

Although population growth was fairly consistent in Brazil during the 16 century, those numbers began to grow exponentially in the 17 and 18 centuries.  News that incredible supplies of emeralds, diamonds and gold were found in the Minas Gerais region of the colony brought Portuguese and other European settlers by the thousands.  And while fortune hunters tried frantically to stake their claims, carpenters, masons, painters and sculptors rapidly came from all over Europe to build cities in a land that was once just a vast wilderness.

Towards the latter half of the 18 century (1763), the capital of Brazil was, for political and administrative purposes, moved to Rio de Janeiro.  Brazil was thriving thanks to its exportation of sugar, cotton, tobacco, gold and diamonds, but when the Royal family arrived in 1808, chased from the motherland by Napoleon’s armies, the country underwent a series of major changes.

When King Dom Joao VI arrived in Brazil with his royal entourage, he began to completely transform the city.  Building projects were initiated, including universities, banks and a national mint, and ports were opened, sparking an increase in trade.  When Napoleon’s armies were defeated, Dom Joao VI returned to Portugal, installing as King of Brazil his son Pedro I to continue to his legacy.  Pedro, however, had other ideas for the colony, and on September 7, 1822 he proclaimed Brazil’s independence from Portugal and established the Brazilian Empire.  Nearly a decade later, amid a series of costly wars and unrest, Pedro I named his five-year old son, Pedro II, the new King of Brazil.  After several regents served in his stead for the next nine years, Pedro II, at age fourteen, was deemed “of age” to rule the country by the Brazilian Parliament.

In 1888, the daughter of Pedro II officially ended slavery in the country.  This did not sit well with the wealthy landowners, who bonded with the military to finish the monarchy altogether.  The Royal Family was forced back to Portugal, and Brazil’s first republican government was formed in the fall of 1889.  A long series of presidents followed, backed by strong coffee and rubber economies, and urban development grew rapidly in what would later become known as the Old Republic.  In 1930, following the political assassination of his running mate, presidential candidate Getulio Vargas seized power through a military coup rather than elections, beginning a dictatorship that would last until 1945.  He would later return to the political scene, running on a populist platform, and was elected president of the second Brazilian republic in 1951.  Halfway through his term, however, Vargas was linked to the political assassination of a political rival, and with the military calling for his resignation, he shot himself.

The latter half of the 1960s saw a return to military rule in Brazil.  A series of generals ruled the country for the next 20 years, and although the economy improved greatly during what is now known as “the miracle of the 1970s,” the prosperity did not last.  Military rule ended—for the last time—in Brazil in 1985.

The Brazilian Constitution of 1988, whose development and ratification was overseen by then 80-year old president Tancredo Neves, outlined the parameters of the first free presidential election in 30 years.  Since that time, Brazil has seen both good times and bad, but through it all democracy has continued to prevail.

 

Brazil:  Economy and Organization

Brazil possesses the world’s seventh-largest economy by nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP).  It also has the world’s seventh-largest economy by purchasing power parity.  A member of the BRIC group, Brazil has one of the fastest-growing economies on the planet, thanks in large part to a series of economic reforms which gave the country new international recognition and influence.  The national development bank (BNDES) in Brazil plays a significant role for the country’s continued economic growth.  Major exports in Brazil include iron-ore, soybeans, coffee, and transportation equipment.

 

Brazil is one of the founding members of the United Nations, Latin Union, CPLP, G20, the Organization of American States, the Organization of Ibero-American States, Mercosul and the Union of South American Nations.  A regional power in Latin America, Brazil is also considered a middle power in international affairs, with some economists identifying the country as an emerging global power.

 

Government of Brazil

The Federative Republic of Brazil consists of 26 states and the Federal District of Brasilia.  At the national level, the government of Brazil is separated into three distinct branches: the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches, each with a number of powers and duties as outlined in the Brazilian Constitution of 1988.

 

The executive branch of Brazil’s government is headed up by a directly-elected president, who serves as both head of the government and head of state.  Working closely with the president is the Vice President, who runs on the same ticket as the President in Brazilian elections, and a Cabinet of Advisors, made up of twenty-four ministers of state who are each in charge of a specific government portfolio.

The legislative branch of Brazil’s government is divided between two houses or chambers:  the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.  Each state, regardless of size, population, or affluence, elects three senators to represent that particular region.  The number of Chamber Deputies each state elects to that house of the National Congress is based on its population, with the more populated states sending more individuals than those that are less populated.

 

Brazil’s judicial branch of government consists of two types of courts:  Justica Comum, or “ordinary courts;” and Justica Especializada, specialized courts. The ordinary courts in Brazil operate at both the state and federal level.  The federal judiciary, known as the Judiciary of the Brazilian Federal District, holds the same jurisdiction (in terms of subject matter) as the ordinary courts at the state level in that particular region, only the courts and jurists at the federal level are organized by the national government.

 

Specialized courts in Brazil operate solely at the federal level.  These courts are divided into three categories, based on the subject matter in which they have jurisdiction:  Military courts, Electoral Courts, and Labor Courts.

 

The two highest courts in Brazil are the Supreme Federal Court and the Superior Court of Justice.  The Supreme Federal Court is known as the highest court in the land, charged with enforcing and protecting the Brazilian Constitution.  The Supreme Court of Justice is the highest court in Brazil with regard to all non-constitutional issues.

 

Brazil: Demographic

Brazil has a population of roughly 190 million people, making it the most populous country in Latin America and the fifth-most populous country in the world.

 

In terms of Brazil’s ethnic makeup, roughly 55 percent of the population is of European descent, mostly Portuguese, but also Spanish, Italian, French, English, German, and Eastern European.  38 percent of the population is of mixed culture, mostly a combination of European and Amerindian heritage, but also Asian and Middle Eastern.  6 percent of the population is of African lineage, while only 1 percent is native Amerindian.

Approximately 29 percent of the Brazilian population is between 0-14 years old, 66 percent is between 15-64 years old, and only 5 percent is age 65 years or older.

Immigration was and is a significant factor when it comes to the ethnic makeup and structure of the Brazilian population.  During colonial times, Portuguese and African populations arrived in the northeastern region of Brazil.  In the period ranging from 1821-1945, approximately 5.2 million Europeans immigrated to Brazil, most settling in the southern agricultural regions.  Following World War I, the Japanese community in Brazil grew to become the largest expatriate Japanese group in the world, with more than one million immigrants arriving in Brazil over the course of a few short years.

 

Brazil: So Many Things to Love

Brazil is one of the world’s most vibrant and captivating countries.  This giant of a nation in South America sparkles with its powdery white-sand beaches, pristine rain forests and bustling rhythm-filled mega-metropolises.  The countless attractions in the country include the history and beauty of the enchanting colonial towns, the picturesque landscapes of red-rock canyons, thundering waterfalls and dazzling tropical islands.  Add to that, Brazil’s immense biodiversity: legendary in scope, its diverse ecosystems boast the greatest collection of plant and animal species found anywhere on the planet.

 

Whether you plan to visit Brazil for a short time, perhaps as a student or for an extended holiday; or move here permanently, the country certainly offers no shortage of adventures, regardless of the size of your budget.  Travelers can take a scenic horseback ride in the Pantanal, go kayaking in the flooded forests of the Amazon basin, scale rocky cliffs to breathtaking views, go whale watching off the golden coast, surf massive breaks off palm-tree dotted beaches and snorkel the crystal coastal reefs of the Atlantic.  All of this and more is just part of the amazing Brazilian experience.  Equally enjoyable is a do-nothing day under the bright brilliant Brazilian sunshine, just soaking up a tan on the plush beaches while sipping on a tasty caipirinha—Brazil’s national cocktail.

The most famous celebration in Brazil, known as Carnaval, storms through the country’s cities and towns with hip-shaking velocity each year, complete with dazzling costumes and days of carefree fun.  However, Brazilians hardly regulate their passion for revelry to just a few weeks of the year. Wherever there’s music to be heard in Brazil, the people’s joyous lust for life tends to appear with it—whether dancing with Cariocas at Rio’s atmospheric samba clubs or following powerful drumbeats through the streets of Salvador.

 

With so much fun and excitement to be had in Brazil, it’s easy to see why the Brazilians are famous for saying, “Deus e Brasileiro (God is Brazilian).” How else could one explain the absolute embarrassment of natural and cultural riches to be found in this beautiful South American paradise?