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Growing Political Unrest in South America Leads to Public Outrage

Brazil’s Protests Mount

By IGI Global on Jul 9, 2013
Contributed by Kristen Stauffer, Discipline Manager

Throughout history, civil unrest has often revealed itself through the voice of public demonstration. Protests have been used as a tool by society for ages to challenge and express grievances at the current state of affairs, issues, or governance on behalf of a country or region’s leaders.

In Brazil, it began with a public transportation fare increase. Human Rights and Information Communication Technologies: Trends and Consequences of Use

According to last week's article on Thomson Reuters, journalist Anthony Boadle states: “The civil unrest, something rarely seen in recent decades in South America's economic powerhouse, was sparked by a small protest against higher public transportation fares in Sao Paulo. The ensuing police crackdown, which touched a nerve in a country with a history of violent political repression under a military dictatorship that ended in 1985, fanned demonstrations nationwide even after cities agreed to roll back the fare increases.”

From there, demonstrations have snowballed to voice Brazilians’ dissatisfaction over the state of public healthcare, economy, educational system, and recent political system reforms. Frustrations also include the over-spending on stadiums that will host next year's World Cup soccer tournament, as well as preparations for the 2016 Olympic Games, which is set to take place in Rio de Janeiro.

We live in an age where technology can quickly share the voice of protest faster than a government - despite its best efforts - can restrict it. In the article, "ICT and Human Rights in Brazil: From Military to Digital Dictatorship”, author José Rodrigues Filho, Professor at Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Brazil, discusses how information technology and the invasive e-government in Brazil could lead to violations of human rights. The government's suspect collection of biometric identification in the e-voting system, as well as the use of invisible electronic surveillance, is affecting civil liberties and individual rights, particularly privacy.

Professor Filho's article discusses the state of the country after control by a military regime, addressing concern that although the country has moved beyond a military government, restrictions on the Brazilian people are still a part of everyday life:

"Despite the potential of ICT to strengthen human rights, it seems that it is not improving human rights in Brazil as expected. Since the end of military government in Brazil, civilian governments have sought the accumulation and exercise of power to the detriment of the citizenry with a kind of totalitarianism that takes the form of digital or bureaucratic dictatorship.”

“… the move from the military regime to a civilian government does not mean that democracy came to be established in Brazil. The more stable democracies all over the world are the result of a long struggle between many opposing parties, aided by resourceful individuals, influential thinkers and the population in general.”

Part of the IGI Global title, Human Rights and Information Communication Technologies: Trends and Consequences of Use, edited by Dr. John Lannon of the University of Limerick, Ireland, and Edward Halpin of Leeds Metropolitan University, UK, Professor Filho's research highlights the struggle between e-government and personal privacy, as well as the government's activities and attitudes towards ICTs. His article emphasizes an overarching theme applicable to any country or state: maintaining social awareness and challenging invasive government policies. The people of Brazil are speaking up; and watching their current leaders and politicians to see what changes, if any, will be made.

Use this link to view more research on Brazil’s economy, public transportation, and education system – among other current issues – via IGI Global's InfoSci®-OnDemand. This database hosts thousands of affordable research articles, book chapters, and teaching cases, allowing full-text searching through our entire collection. Start your search today.
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Security and ForensicsSocial Sciences and HumanitiesHuman Aspects of TechnologyInformation Security & PrivacyInformation TrustSocial ComputingArticlesBooks & E-BooksChaptersInfoSci-DatabasesLatin & South AmericaNorth America

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