Intelligence Reforms in Brazil: Contemporary Challenges and the Legacy of the Past; Journal article

摘要

Brazil has recently developed an extensive intelligence system composed of at least 13 different organizations. The most important factors determining the main characteristics of this system were on the noxious stigma associated with intelligence organizations during the military dictatorship of 1964-1985, and the benign view of the outside world held by Brazilian decision makers and the general public. The development of the system was slow and drawn out due to these two factors, and it was exacerbated by political weakness and fecklessness in the executive branch between 1985 and 1995, and the slow emergence of interest in the issue of intelligence by members of the legislative branch. The system was created with great emphasis on legality and transparency. The resulting system is a crucial element of democratic consolidation both in terms of motivation and roles. Unfortunately, there is a real concern as to the effectiveness of the system due to the way it is structured and staffed.