ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Department of Political Science
POS 498 Politics of Brazil Spring, 2005
Prof. M. Mitchell
Office Hours
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 11-12 noon and by appointment
Coor Hall 6710
Phone: 965-1318/965-6552
Introduction
Brazil is a fascinating country to study. First of all, Brazil is a country of continental size. As such it stands out among the nations of Latin America as a model in several fields of endeavor. To borrow a phrase, "as Brazil goes, so goes the rest of Latin America." In any case Brazil aspires to a position of leadership on a par with the great nations of the world.
Also, with respect to size, history, ethnic composition, Brazil resembles the United States in almost uncanny fashion. It is a nation with comparable experiences with frontier advancement, the contribution of immigration to national development and national identity, the apparent intractability of problems with race and ethnic relations, and, perhaps just as significantly, the vibrancy of its internationally recognized popular culture. Nevertheless, despite its similarities with the United States, Brazil has taken a decidedly different course of development.
Similarities and differences are the context in which to analyze a range of topics that bear on the complex dimensions of Brazilian politics and society. This context serves as the reference for examining such topics as democratization, human rights, economic development, as well as the contrasts with the United States in the functioning of Brazilian political institutions.
Studying Brazil offers the twin opportunities of learning about Brazil in its own right, and of contemplating the historical contingencies that mark the genuine differences between Brazilian and American politics.
Texts
The following texts are available for purchase from
The Student Center Book Store
704 South College
Teresa Meade, A Brief History of Brazil (2002), Facts on File, paper
G. Harvey Summ (ed.), Brazilian Mosaic: Portraits of a Diverse People and Culture, Scholarly Resources,( 1995) paper
Claude Levi-Strauss, Tristes Tropiques, Penguin Books, paper (1992)
Texts
John Burdick, Blessed Anastacia: Women, Race and Popular Christianity in Brazil (1998), Routledge, paper
Kenneth Serbin, Secret Dialogues: Church-State Relations, Torture and Social Justice in Authoritarian Brazil, (2000) University of Pittsburgh Press, paper
Luiz C. Barbosa, The Brazilian Amazon Rain Forest, (2000), University Press of America
Mauricio Font and Anthony Spanakos (eds), Reforming Brazil, Lexington Books
Requirements
Each student will be required to complete three writing exercises in this course. These will consist of essays (or “think pieces”) of five to ten typed pages on topics to be assigned. The dates on which these assignments are due will be spread evenly throughout the semester. Dates of assignments are indicated in the Schedule of Topics, Readings, Films, and Assignment section of the syllabus
SCHEDULE OF TOPICS, READINGS, FILMS, AND ASSIGNMENTS
January 18-20
Introduction to the Course;
Basic Facts
Required Readings (*):
*The Economist, “A Survey of Brazil,” 2003 (available online from <Economist.com/surveys>)
*Film: “Brazil: The Heart of South America”
January 26-Feb 10Brazil in Mythic Dimensions:
An Outsider’s First Encounter
Elements of National Identity
*Claude Levi-Strauss, Tristes Tropiques, chaps. 5-23, 17, 20, 37, 38
*Fernando Azevedo, “Altruistic, Sentimental, and Generous,” in Harvey Summ (ed) Brazilian Mosaic, pp. 3-8
*Francisco Oliveira Vianna, “A Wealth of Incalculable Spiritual Attributes,” in Summ, pp.8-13
*Film: Black Orpheus (original Version)
February 15-February 17
The Genesis of Brazilian Politics: From Colony to Empire (“Eu Fico”)
*Teresa Meade, A Brief History of Brazil, chaps 1-4
*Paulo Prado, "Essays on Sadness," in Summ, pp. 18-20
*John Luccock, "The Depraved Man," in Summ, pp. 49-53
*Louis and Elizabeth Agassiz, "The Education of Men and Women," in Summ, pp. 72-76
First Assignment Due–February 17
February 22-March 3
The Dilemmas of Modernization:
The First Republic, Canudos, and the Vargas Revolution
*Meade, A Brief History..., chaps. 5-7
*Gilberto Freyre, "New World in the Tropics," in Summ, pp.85-92
*Euclydes Da Cunha, "The Man of the Backlands," in Summ, pp.95-97
*Sergio Buarque Holanda, " The Cordial Man," in Humm, pp. 106-109
*Peter Kelleman, "Find a Way Around," in Summ, pp. 129-132
March 8-10
The Crisis of Democracy and The Military Regime, 1964-1985
*Meade, A Brief History..., chap 8
*Kenneth Serbin, Secret Dialogues..., chaps 1-5
March 14-18
Spring Break
March 22-24
The Crisis of Democracy and The Military Regime, 1964-1985
*Serbin, Secret Dialogues..., chaps6, 8, 10, 11
Film: Four Days in September
Second Assignment Due–March 24
March 29-April 7
Race, Gender, and Religion
*George Reid Andrews, “Brazilian Racial Democracy, 1900-1990: An American Counterpoint,” Journal of Contemporary History, vol 31 no.3 pp. 483-507 (Online Access)
*John Burdick, Blessed Anastacia, chaps 1-6, conclusion
*Herbert H. Smith, "The Evils of Slavery," in Summ, pp. 76-79
*Anani Dzidzienyo, "An Obsession with Whiteness and Blackness," in Summ, pp. 162-166
*Film: Quilombo (time permitting)
April 12-14
Brazilian Politics and the Amazon Rainforest
*Luiz Barbosa, The Brazilian Amazon Rainforest, chaps 1-6
April 19-April 28
Public Policies and Democratic Reform
*Mauricio Font, “Dawn of a New Era,” in Font and Spanakos, Reforming Brazil, 3-9
*Eliana Cardoso, “Monetary and Fiscal Reforms,” in Font and Spanakos, pp. 29-51
*Sonia Draibe, “Social Policy Reform,” in Font and Spanakos, pp. 53-69
*Anthony Pereira, “Agrarian Reform,” in Font and Spanakos, “ pp. 93-113
*David Fleischer, “Political Reform: ‘The Missing Link’” in Font &Spanakos 115-133
*Peter Klingstone, “Industrialists and Liberalization,” in Font & Spanakos, 161-176
*Salvador Sandoval, “Working Class Contention,” in Font and Spanakos, 195-215
May 3
Summing Up
Third Assignment Due