t to decrease this threat.
Brazil is the sixth largest nation in the world in terms of population with more than 155 million inhabitants. Most of its residents (75 percent) live in the urban settings of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte. This urbanization, much of which has occurred over the past 20 years, has boosted economic development, but has also created many of the same social and political problems which plague other major cities throughout the world. Because of the nation's large population and relatively high per capital gross domestic product, Brazil is an attractive trading partner for industrialized nations. Major partners include the United States, Argentina, Germany and France.
The nation's political history has been unstable and marked by power struggles between civilian and military rule. From 1889 until 1930, Brazil boasted a constitutional democracy; a military coup in 1930 resulted in a civilian dictator (backed by the military) being placed in power. This president (Getulio
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