Still, challenges remain and Brazil struggles with a gap between the rich and poor, skewed land ownership, and foreign debt. President Lula's economic policy includes long-term investments and strengthening trade agreements with developing countries and other Latin American nations.
Good trade depends on strong foreign relations. "Brazil has traditionally been a leader in the inter-American community and played an important role in collective security efforts, as well as in economic cooperation in the Western Hemisphere. Brazil supported the Allies in both World Wars" and "played a key role in the Allied victory" in Italy (Pearson 9). Brazil also belongs to such groups and pacts as the Organization of American States, the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, the Community of South American Nations, and the United Nations. Brazil also enjoys a friendly and healthy relationship with the United States. President Lula has met with U.S. President Bush on a number of occasions and diplomatic relations are strong. Topics of international concern for Brazil include trade, arms control, human rights, terrorism, and environmental issues.
While Brazil works to cooperate with other nations in the area of human rights, it has internal struggles of its own in this area. The slave trade has been abolished in Brazil since 1888, but the population of the nation still reflects the diversity of its beginnings. The major ethnic groups are Portuguese, Africans who originally came as slaves,
Positive news is that, "since the transition to democracy in 1985, in contrast to what took place during the period of authoritarian government, the federal government has promoted changes in legislation and has backed policies to protect and promote human rights, especially the rights of the most vulnerable groups" (Pinheiro 1). Still, progress remains slow in this area. "Despite these positive changes, frequent and serious violations of human rights continue to occur" and some government officials and law enforcement personnel continue to act with impunity (Penheiro 1).
Despite the fact that Brazil continues to struggle with fully implementing democracy, securing human rights, and bolstering the economy, it has made significant steps in its thirty years of democratic rule. Its three-branch government of an executive, legislative, and judicial branch echoes the successful democracies of its neighbors. Brazil's participation in international and regional political and economic groups secures its position as a nation poised to grow and prosper throughout the 21st century.
Works Cited
Pearson Education, publishing as Infoplease. "U.S. Department of State
Background Note: Brazil. (2006). Retrieved 7/28/2006 at http://print.infoplease.com/country/profiles/brazil.html
Pinheiro, Paulo Sergio. "Human Rights." Retrieved 7/28/2006 from www.mre.gov.br/cdbrasil/itamaraty/web/ingles/polsoc/dirhum/apresent/apresent.htm
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