Corruption and Democracy in Brazil: The Struggle for Accountability

Brazil, the world's fourth largest democracy, has been plagued in recent years by corruption scandals. Corruption and Democracy in Brazil: The Struggle for Accountability considers the performance of the Brazilian federal accountability system with a view to diagnosing the system's strengths, weaknesses, and areas of potential improvement; taking stock of recent micro- and macro-level reforms; and pointing out the implications of the various dimensions of the accountability process for Brazil's democratic regime.

The book's essays take a multidimensional approach to the accountability matrix in Brazil. The first section of the book investigates the complex interrelationships among representative institutions, electoral dynamics, and public opinion. In the second section, authors address nonelectoral dimensions of accountability, such as the role of the media, accounting institutions, police, prosecutors, and courts. In the final chapter, the editors reflect upon the policy implications of the essays, considering recommendations that may contribute to an effective fight against political corruption and support ongoing accountability, as well as articulating analytical lessons for social scientists interested in the functioning of accountability networks.

Author: Timothy J. Power
Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press
Published: 04/15/2011
Pages: 328
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9780268038946

Review Citation(s):
Choice 12/01/2011

About the Author

Matthew M. Taylor is assistant professor of political science at the University of São Paulo, Brazil.