Intelligence Reforms in Brazil: Contemporary Challenges and the Legacy of the Past.

Brazil has recently developed an extensive intelligence system composed of at least thirteen different organizations. The most important factors determining the main characteristics of this system were on the one hand the noxious stigma associated with intelligence organizations during the military dictatorship of 1964 - 85, and on the other hand 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 exacerbated by political weakness and even disarray in the executive branch between 1985 and 1995, and the slow emergence of interest by members of the legislative branch in the issue of intelligence. The system is the creation of the executive and the legislature with great emphasis on legality and transparency. The resultant system is a crucial element of democratic consolidation both in terms of motivation and roles. In light of this background, however, there is real concern as to the effectiveness of the system due to the way it is structured and staffed. The concern with effectiveness is new, and is due to rampant violence by organized crime in the biggest cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, and the upcoming Pan American Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro in July of 2007. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]