Brazil presents a compelling example of twenty-first century democracy in action. In this sequel to their landmark study <i>Democratic Brazil, </i> editors Peter Kingstone and Timothy J. Power have assembled a distinguished group of U.S.- and Brazilian-based scholars to assess the impact of competitive politics on Brazilian government, institutions, economics, and society. The 2002 election of Lula da Silva and his Worker's Party promised a radical shift toward progressive reform, transparency, and accountability, opposing the earlier centrist and market-oriented policies of the Cardoso government. But despite the popular support reflected in his 2006 reelection, many observers claim that Lula and his party have fallen short of their platform promises. They have moved to the center in their policies, done little to change the elitist political culture of the past, and have engaged in "politics as usual" in executive-legislative relations, leading to allegations of corruption. Under these conditions, democracy in Brazil remains an enigma. Progress in some areas is offset by stagnation and regression in others: while the country has seen renewed economic growth and significant progress in areas of health care and education, the gap between rich and poor remains vast. Rampant crime, racial inequality, and a pandemic lack of personal security taint the vision of progress. These dilemmas make Brazil a particularly striking case for those interested in Latin America and democratization in general.
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<b>Peter Kingstone (Editor) </b><br> <b>Peter R. Kingstone</b> is professor of politics and development and cofounder of the Department of International Development at King's College London. He is the author of several books, including <i>Crafting Coalitions for Reform: Business Preferences, Political Institutions and Neoliberal Reform in Brazil; The Political Economy of Latin America: Reflections on Neoliberalism and Development;</i> and is coeditor, with Timothy J. Power, of <i>Democratic Brazil: Actors, Institutions and Processes, </i> and <i>Democratic Brazil Revisited.</i> <b></b><br><br><b>Timothy J. Power (Editor) </b><br> <b>Timothy J. Power</b> is university lecturer in Brazilian Studies and fellow of St. Antony's College, University of Oxford. A past president of the Brazilian Studies Association, he is the author of <i>The Political Right in Postauthoritarian Brazil.</i><br><br>