When Brazil is mentioned, people automatically think of its flavorful samba music and the spectacular carnival festival it hosts forty days before Easter. Don’t forget that it has won the most World Soccer Cups in history! The only Latin American country that speaks Portuguese, Brazil has not only proven to contain an immensely rich culture, but also demonstrates prominence in modernization and reformation to becoming an advanced nation. Lately, it has been going through a lot of changes socially and economically. With so many goals on its agenda, it’s no surprise that Brazil is distinguishing itself, and predicted to be one of the world’s superpower in the future. Officially the seventh biggest economy in the world, Brazil is proving itself to holding the reins in taking control of its own nation. According to The New York Times, Brazil, along with Russia, India, and China, formed an alliance that is known by the acronym, BRIC. BRIC officially met in the summer of 2009, with many similar circumstances and opinions. They criticized the value of the U.S. dollar, and were greatly concerned with continuing to invest in the dollar’s status, and the global monetary system. During this time, the United States was in a recession, so who could blame them for worrying about securing their own financial securities? After all, these countries control 40 percent of the global currency reserves. Despite the varied opinions, these nations are taking matters into their own hands as they attempt to find a way to stabilize and expand their economies, demanding to be heard and recognized by the world. South Africa was welcomed with open arms in becoming a part of this alliance, during a critical time in April 2011 when the alliance officially declared its opposition of Libya intervention.
On January 1, 2011, Dilma Rousseff made history by becoming the first woman elected to be the Brazilian president. According to her biography provided by The New York Times, Rousseff first entered the political scene as she joined movements against the military regime that dominated Brazil during the early 1970s. As a result of her radical beliefs, Rousseff was imprisoned for three years. Yet this didn’t discourage her. When she was released, she would become one of the founding members of the Democratic Labor Party, and her political career would gradually soar. With her background of studying economics, Rousseff was the Secretary of Finance of Municipality of Porto Alegre, then the president of Foundation of Economics and Statistics of the States of the Rio Grande do Sul. Impressed with her achievements, recent Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva would make her minister of mines and energy in 2002, and eventually made her Chief of Staff of his cabinet in 2005.
On March 18, 2011, Times journalist Tim Padgett wrote “Obama Goes to Rio: A Nod to Brazil’s Growing Power.” This article observed Brazil’s high ambitions of being a part of global politics and economy processes, such as the United Nations Security Council. Brazil has succeeded in creating the pan-South American Union known as Unasur. Last year, Brazil’s economy grew 7.5 percent, the highest that Brazil has ever experienced. This economic boom has led to the creation of other goals. Journalist Andrew Downie’s article, “How Brazil Is Sending 75,000 Students to the World’s Best Colleges” was published in the Times on September 21, 2011. The Brazilian government aimed to give out 75,000 scholarships for students to attend the top universities. They are mostly aiming to recruit students who seek to pursue the fields of science, technology, mathematics, and engineering. However, in order for this plan to succeed, this nation has recognized that other issues must be addressed, such as foreign-language proficiency, and improving primary and secondary education. Despite these problems, President Rousseff is attempting to follow through this agenda.
Yet Rousseff’s presidency was put to the test when Brazil showed signs of inflation. In The New York Times article, “After a Year in Economic Overdrive, Brazil Hopes to Elude Pitfalls,” which was published on October 8th, journalist Alexi Barrionuevo observed how Brazil is now dealing with an inflation rate rising 7.3 percent due to its “overvalued currency and an industrial sector losing competitiveness to cheap Chinese imports.” To make matters complicated, the Brazilian government is expected to pay increased payments in social welfare programs, minimum wages, and infrastructure projects. The government lowered interest rates, 28 billion dollars in budget cuts, and plans to raise import taxes on foreign cars and trucks by 30 percent. These actions were made so as to save jobs, and protect industry shares. The Times published the article, “Rio 2016: Is Brazil Going to Be Ready for the Olympics?” on September 16, 2011. Journalist Andrew Downie notes how Brazil’s preparations for hosting the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games aren’t on schedule. Many infrastructure problems have been stalled, budgets haven’t been planned carefully, and transportation schedules are very chaotic and unpredictable.
Nobody knows what will become of Brazil’s economy and its recent boom and inflation rate increase demonstrates the flaws that Brazil must address. President Rousseff is facing a lot of pressures, and her public support remains controversial. Although Brazil’s aspirations of becoming one of the world’s superpowers are good, Brazil must first address and resolve its own internal problems in order to step forward in succeeding this goal. Brazil proves to be one of the most motivated nations. This kind of driven commitment should be something the United States emulates.