Modern Brazil and the World

Modern Brazil and the World places Brazil in the context of global exchanges while paying attention to the role of ordinary people, from the end of the eighteenth century to the present day. Brazil has consistently played an important part in major global events. Its independence and modern formation resulted from a confluence of world events during the Napoleonic invasions of Portugal in 1808. The country’s political agitations and transformations have been directly connected to worldwide movements across the centuries, including the abolition of slavery, the women's and feminist movements, World War I and II, the countercultural protests of the 1960s, the democratic openings of the 1980s, and contemporary social justice movements such as Black Lives Matter (Vidas Negras Importam). In addition, complex cross-national exchanges, migrations, and cultural borrowings have been integral to the formation of modern Brazil. This book covers important themes such as the construction of nationhood, transnational connections, and historically contextualized economic, political, social and cultural developments. It explores relations with countries in Europe and North America and more recent information on Brazil's south-south relations, particularly with the Caribbean. Written with the undergraduate student in mind, this book will be vital in the study of Brazilian history and modern Latin America.