Brazil. Federative Republic of Brazil
The largest country in South America, located in its western and central parts. Area — 8.5 million km². Capital — Brasília (1.8 million), other largest cities: São Paulo (10.6 million), Rio de Janeiro (over 6 million), Belo Horizonte (2.1 million), Salvador (1.8 million), Fortaleza (1.5 million). Administrative-territorial division - 26 states and a federal (capital) district. Population — 177 million (2004), mainly Brazilians; ethnic composition: whites — 54.7%, blacks — 5.89%, mulattos — 38.45%. The country has over 3 million immigrants (Japanese, Italians, Germans, Arabs, French, etc.). The official language is Portuguese. The predominant religion is Catholicism. The currency is the real = 100 centavos.
It has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the Russian Empire on March 3, 1828; interrupted in 1917; restored with the USSR on April 2, 1945; interrupted in 1947 by Brazil and restored on November 23, 1961 at its initiative).
National holiday — September 1 — Independence Day (1822).
Brazil is a presidential federal republic. A new constitution was adopted in 1988. The head of state, government, and supreme commander-in-chief is the president (since January 1, 2003 — L. I. Lula da Silva), elected for 4 years. The highest legislative body is the National Congress, consisting of the Federal Senate (81 members) and the Chamber of Deputies (513 members), elected by direct and secret voting based on a proportional representation system from each state and the federal district, depending on the number of residents (senators elected by a majority principle for 8 years, deputies for 4 years). The Senate is renewed every 4 years alternately by 1/3 and 2/3. In October 2002, general elections were held in Brazil, in which the president of the republic, governors of states and the federal district, senators, deputies of the National Congress, and deputies of the legislative chambers of states and the federal district were elected.
Main political parties: Workers' Party (PT) - the ruling party in Brazil since 2003. Formed on the wave of labor and other social movements of the 1970s at the initiative of the metallurgists' union congress in São Paulo in 1979, the founding congress was on November 10, 1980. Within the PT, 6 main groups have historically formed: center, right wing (social-democratic direction), left wing (2 directions: socialist-Trotskyists and ex-Stalinists with Kostrovites), extreme left (2 directions: Trotskyists and extremists). The majority of party members belong to the center group. In the second half of the 1990s, the balance of power in the party tilted in favor of the moderate wing, oriented towards liberalism and a market economy. The PT is the largest party in the Chamber of Deputies - 90 out of 513 mandates (the largest faction). In the Federal Senate - 13 out of 81 seats (the third largest faction). The number of members exceeds 500,000. It has predominant influence in the Unified Workers' Trade Union Center and the Landless Workers' Movement. The leader of the PT and one of its founders is the current president L. I. Lula da Silva. The chairman of the PT is J. J. Netto.
Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) - the main opposition party. Established in 1988, it occupies center-left positions. It is considered in Brazil as the "party of the intellectual elite." In 1994, the leader of the PSDB, prominent sociologist F. E. Cardoso, won the presidential elections, receiving 54% of the votes. In 1998, he was re-elected to this position. The PSDB faction in the Chamber of Deputies - 48 members, in the Federal Senate - 11 members. The honorary chairman of the party is F. E. Cardoso. The chairman of the PSDB is J. Serra.
Democratic Labor Party (PDT) - created in 1979 with the assistance of the Socialist International and maintains close ties with several parties within it. It primarily represents the interests of small and part of the medium national capital, as well as certain categories of workers.
Brazilian Labor Party (PTB) - established in 1980. It represents the interests of small and medium entrepreneurs.
Progressive Party (PP) - formed in 1995 as a result of the merger of the Progressive Reform Party, the Progressive Party, and part of the Brazilian Labor Party. It adheres to center-left views.
Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) - the largest party in Brazil, registered in 1981, created on the basis of the Brazilian Democratic Movement, which operated during the military regime. In terms of programmatic focus, it emphasizes political democratization of the country. The PMDB has characteristics of a broad front, consisting of 5 main groups united by interests and views - from progressive to right-conservative. In 1985, PMDB candidate T. Neves was elected president of Brazil. The PMDB remains one of the most influential political forces in the country: 76 deputies in the lower house of parliament (the second largest faction) and 23 senators in the upper house of parliament (the largest faction). The leading core consists of political figures reflecting the interests of medium and small owners, as well as some representatives of large capital. After the death in a plane crash in 1992 of PMDB founder U. Guimarães, there was a struggle for leadership within the party. M. Temer was elected chairman of the PMDB.
Liberal Front Party (PFL) - formed on January 24, 1985, by politicians who left the Social Democratic Party (an organization of supporters of the military regime). In 1985-90, PFL leader J. Sarney became president of Brazil after the death of President T. Neves. Ideologically, it is a right-wing party, standing on neoliberal positions, defending private entrepreneurship and strong presidential power, seeking to minimize state intervention in the economy. While in opposition, it represents the interests of large and part of the medium national capital and occupies center-right positions. In the Chamber of Deputies, the PFL has 62 deputies (the third largest faction), in the Federal Senate - 17 senators (the second largest faction).
The largest trade union associations: Unified Workers' Trade Union Center - uniting 18 million, General Confederation of Workers, National Confederations of Industrial Workers, Credit Institution Workers, and Trade Workers.
The Portuguese entered Brazil (from the Portuguese name for a valuable species of redwood) in 1500; it was a colony of Portugal until the 19th century. In 1822, it was proclaimed an independent empire, and in 1889 - a republic. Slavery was abolished in 1888.
In March 1985, after 20 years of military rule, a civilian government came to power led by President J. Sarney. In December 1992, following the resignation of President F. Collor, against whom impeachment proceedings were initiated, Vice President I. Franco assumed the presidency.
Several steps by the Brazilian administration, primarily the introduction of a new currency in July 1994, allowed the I. Franco government to somewhat stabilize the difficult socio-economic situation in the country. The initial successes in implementing the "Real Plan," which led to a tenfold reduction in inflation by early 1995, contributed to the rapid rise in the rating of the plan's author - former Minister of Foreign Affairs and then Minister of Finance - F. E. Cardoso, who became one of the main candidates for the presidency of Brazil.
In the presidential elections held on October 3, 1994, the leader of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party F. E. Cardoso won, taking office on January 1, 1995; in 1998, he was re-elected as president.
In the presidential elections in October 2002, L. I. Lula da Silva, the leader of the Workers' Party, won. Among the main tasks of his government are the continuation of reforms aimed at reducing unemployment, creating conditions for sustainable economic growth, maintaining a low level of inflation, attracting foreign investment, and implementing pension and tax reform.
The main social programs are: "Zero Hunger," aimed at combating hunger, and "Family Grant," focused on providing material assistance to low-income segments of the population. The "Educated Brazil" program is being implemented, which has already reached over 1 million people.
GDP in 2004 grew by 5.1%. The growth rates of production in industry - 8.3%, in agriculture - 6%, in the service sector - 3.8%. Inflation - 7% (9.3% in 2003). The unemployment rate decreased and by the end of the year was 9.6% (12.2% in 2003). Gold and foreign exchange reserves grew to $55.6 billion (up from $54.4 billion in 2003). The inflow of foreign direct investment increased to $18 billion (up from $9 billion in 2003).
At the same time, the Brazilian market remains highly sensitive to fluctuations in the global economy. The servicing of external debt, which amounted to 51.8% of GDP (57.2% in 2003), places a serious burden on the country's finances.
The government is seeking to restructure external debt, including by extending the amortization periods of obligations and replacing maturing bonds with new securities.
Brazil is a member of the UN (since 1945), OAS (since 1948), LAES (since 1975), LAI (since 1981), MERCOSUR, and is a participant in the Rio Group and UNASUR.
It has observer status in the Non-Aligned Movement.
In recent years, Brazil has achieved significant success in creating modern industrial production, transforming from an agrarian to an industrial-agrarian country. According to the UN classification, Brazil has been classified as a "newly industrialized country."
In terms of GDP (USD 598 billion in 2004), Brazil is approaching the top ten economically developed countries in the world. The share of industry in GDP is about 40%, agriculture - 10%, and the share of the service sector - about 50%.
Brazil holds one of the leading positions in the world in reserves of iron ore, manganese, bauxite, zinc, beryllium, niobium, nickel, uranium, and gold. Brazil has the largest hydroelectric power station in the world, "Itaipu" - 12.6 million kW. Active development of offshore oil fields is underway, which allows the country to meet 89% of its oil needs (in 2004, consumption was 1.8 million barrels per day).
The most developed sector of the Brazilian economy is machine engineering, which accounts for more than 30% of the country's total industrial production. One of the priority areas of the economic strategy is the production of computing technology. The needs for equipment are met by 80% (in some sectors - over 95%) through domestic production. Domestic enterprises provide more than 50% of internal needs for information technology.
Space and nuclear programs are being implemented. The principle of exclusively peaceful use of nuclear energy is enshrined in the country's constitution. In 1998, Brazil joined the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
Agriculture in Brazil is a fairly developed sector of the economy. This sector employs 30% of the self-employed population (over 20 million people). Rice, coffee, sugar cane, corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, cocoa, and other crops are grown. In terms of agricultural exports, Brazil ranks second only to the USA and France.
The main mode of transport is road transport. There are about 2 million km of roads, of which 8% are paved, and railways - 30,000 km. The main seaports are Santos, Rio de Janeiro, and Recife.
Brazil receives up to 4.7 million (2004) tourists annually. The most visited cities are Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
In 2004, a record level of the country's foreign trade turnover was recorded - USD 159.1 billion. The export volume amounted to USD 96.4 billion (32% more than in 2003), and imports - USD 62.7 billion (30% more compared to the previous year). Thus, the positive balance of the trade balance reached USD 33.6 billion, which is the best indicator in the country's history. In terms of total foreign trade volume, Brazil rose in the world ranking from eighth to sixth place, surpassing Indonesia and South Korea. The main export goods are iron ore, soybeans, and products of the milling industry, coffee, cocoa, sugar, orange juice, and bauxite. The basis of exports is industrial products, mainly finished goods of industrial processing (cars, electronic devices, airplanes, steel). Brazil imports oil, machinery and equipment, grain, coal, and non-ferrous metals.
The main trading partners are the USA, Argentina, China, and EU countries. Trade with MERCOSUR countries and Africa is rapidly developing.
The largest universities in the country are the University of São Paulo and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
Among the largest periodicals are daily newspapers: "Folha de São Paulo" (over 500,000 copies), "Globo" (350,000), "Estadão de São Paulo" (270,000), "Jornal do Brasil" (200,000), weekly magazine "Veja" (800,000), and analytical magazine "Isto É" (420,000).
The information service is Empresa Brasileira de Comunicação (Radiobras).
Broadcasting is conducted on 5 channels. The leading television companies are "Globo," SBT, and "Band."