Changing Brazil's State Racial Policy: Intersection of Social Movements, International Events, Media and Local Politics.

My research closely examines the shift in Brazil's state racial policy beginning in 2001. To do this, I look at events in Rio de Janiero's State Legislative Assembly as a case study. This allows me to highlight the combination of local, national and international processes that configure the development of affirmative action policy in Brazil. I am interested in uncovering the micro-mechanisms of power that operate in Rio de Janiero's local politics as I consider these to be not that different from what happens at the national or global level. Democratic regimes operate with a logic according to which indignation and resistance should be incorporated into the system. Time and again Black Movement activists and other SMOs and activists in Brazil have complied comprehensive policies and programs to address racial and social injustice -- including land and wealth redistribution -- only to have their work transformed by state institutions and actors into policies of quotas for black Brazilians in hiring and education. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]