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Racial Representation and Brazilian Politics: Black Members of the National Congress, 1983–1999

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Ollie A. Johnson III
Ollie A. Johnson III*
Affiliation:
University of Maryland, College Park
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Extract

There is a stereotype of who can be intelligent

and competent, who can have power. In Brazil it is

rich, white men who represent the face of power.

—Benedita da Silva, Afro-Brazilian Senator

In examining politics, legislatures, and elected officials, scholars often make a distinction between descriptive and substantive representation. In the former, representatives share the social or demographic characteristics of the represented (Pitkin 1967, 60–91; Mansbridge 1996). In the latter, representatives pursue policies favorable to the interests of the represented (Swain 1993, 5; Lublin 1997, 12). From the perspective of these scholars, substantive representation may be achieved without descriptive representation. At the same time, these two types of representation are not mutually exclusive.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs , Volume 40 , Issue 4 , Winter 1998 , pp. 97 - 118
Copyright
Copyright © University of Miami 1998

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