History of Protests

A Short History of Protest in Brazil 

As the riots in the streets of São Paulo continue to grow, it is impossible to overlook the fervor and resolve of these Brazilian protestors and examine the political struggle that has been going on for years in this country.  Even before the wave of protests against the World Cup and Olympic games, Brazilian citizens have long been at odds with their government. Corruption has been an overarching theme throughout the past few decades and it is crucial to recall the past riots in order to evaluate the present situation and adjust for the future.

The citizens of Brazil have long been outspoken and unafraid to face their government when important social, political or environmental issues arise. Recall back in the 1980’s when demonstrators protested for environmental change, particularly in the Amazon regions of Brazil.  Citizens stood in opposition to their governments neglect and outright disregard for environmental concerns. Enraged and motivated, these protestors were eventually able to force their government to make changes, thanks to the help of international pressures as well.Fast forward to the early 2000’s, as Brazilian protested their government once again on the mysterious disappearances of some 9,000 citizens over the course of a year. Then again protests and riots arise in opposition to the first of many social changes implemented by the government in preparation for the World Cup.[1]

Anti-government rallies seem all too common in Brazilian history, which begs the questions what is the cause of such tension between the government and the people and how can this conflict be resolved? At the heart of this tension lies corruption and loose legislation on the part of the government. A large political scandal was revealed in 2005 which aired out the dirty work of many of the country’s top law makers and political figures. In a country with growing economic potential but retarded socio-political development, it is essential that the government retains its legitimacy as the backbone of the country. However, due to corruption and failing social systems, the government’s trust is eroding and citizens are taking to the streets to demand change.

In such climates as these, serious and effective policy changes need to be implemented in order to turn the country around. The people need to observe a stark difference in the way in which the government was run in the past (laden with corruption), and the direction in which they want to move in the future. A more transparent system of checks and balances pertaining to the allocation of public funding as well as equal judicial standards, a more concerted effort in social development and more judicial spending and planning in preparation for the upcoming events are all strategies that should be implemented to turn the government around and avoid corruption in the future. The FIFA World Cup as well as the Olympic Games should be an opportunity for the Brazilian government to show its people as well as the rest of the world that their country is in good hands and their government is more than capable of running it.

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[1] "South America Protest Timeline." Map Report. CNT Group Inc., 2000. Web. 13 Jan.
     2014. <http://www.mapreport.com/citysubtopics/
     south_america-p-r.html>.