Brazil

Once deemed a dysfunctional democracy with afeckless set of political institutions and adrunk economy, today's Brazil has undergone acomplete reversal of fortune. Now in its third decade of democracy,the economy is blossoming and large-scale development projects areunderway, including the exploitation of massive, off-shore oilreserves, a nationwide effort to modernize infrastructure, andpreparations for the hosting of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016Olympics. Inequality and poverty are reducing and evenBrazil's political institutions are more governable and areproducing a higher-quality democracy than most observers oncethought possible.Alfred P. Montero's timely and wide-ranging book exploresBrazil's amazing turnaround - from improvementsto the working of its political institutions and judiciary, to therenewal of economic growth, the advent of innovative social policy,and the emergence of a new foreign policy agenda. Unpacking bothoverly optimistic as well as pessimistic views of Brazilianpolitics and development, Montero offers illuminating insights intothe country's transformation and its increasing significanceon the international stage.