Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

The Travail of Brazilian Democracy in the “New Republic”

1986; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 28; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/165746

2162-2736

William C. Smith,

International Development and Aid

On March 15,1987, Brazil celebrated the second anniversary of the Nova República , the popular term for the new civilian government headed by José Sarney. While commemoration of the return to more open, competitive politics after 21 years of authoritarian rule is certainly cause for justifiable national pride, a worsening economic crisis combined with escalating domestic social and political conflict leave many Brazilians deeply worried about the future of their incipient democracy. By conventional standards, Brazil has joined the ranks of fullfledged political democracies. Nevertheless, a more stringent view would hold that Brazil has really only entered into a new, more complex phase of political transition in which genuine democracy has yet to become firmly established. The new civilian government must now address fundamental issues of social justice and more balanced, equitable economic growth than was realized under authoritarian rule.