Assessing Brazil's Culture of Peace

Abstract

Visitors are amazed by their first impressions of Brazil. Foreigners have always received a warm welcome. Ethnic mixture has taken place with a frequency and intensity incomparable to that of other countries. The same language is spoken nationwide. During Carnival, people from all socioeconomic classes dance and frolic together without distinction. Cordiality, informality, and spontaneity appear to be Brazilian traits. But this is only a part of a bigger, more complex picture that, unfortunately, also encompasses a variety of serious problems, some easily detected by a visitor and some demanding a deeper analysis of the socioeconomic context of the country. In contrast to idealized images, often reinforced by state-subsidized advertising, there are difficulties that demand crucial analysis and efficient political and cultural actions. This article uses the template suggested by de Rivera (2004/this issue) to make an analysis of Brazil's culture of peace. Although our analysis is mostly qualitative, whenever possible we refer our observations to the template's objective indicators.