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Under the leadership of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil has become a regional leader in Latin America with vibrant international foreign policy. A look at the internal political dynamics of Brazil would be useful also. During President Lula's presidency, Brazil has had tremendous economic growth. But in the coming October presidential elections, would his Workers Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores, PT) still remain in power?

With a GDP approaching $2 trillion, Brazil is the eighth largest economy in the world. 20 years ago the country was known for its inflation and fluctuating economy, but it is now considered a great place for investment. While President Lula's government has applied effective social policies, it has also positioned itself as a significant player in international affairs. Therefore, it was not a big surprise when Time magazine named President Lula da Silva the world's most influential leader. Instead of conceding to the so-called imperatives of globalization, as so many other developing nations have done, Lula has led Brazil to assert its autonomy and independence, setting its own conditions for dealing with a changing international order (Jorge Heine, The Hindu, May 6, 2010).

Lula honed his political education and negotiation skills in the trade union movement. A former metal worker, he lost one of his fingers on the factory floor. As president, Lula has designed imaginative social policies that have diminished Brazil's income in... >>>