Romanna Giulia Remor dreams of being a senator in the Brazilian Congress. In fact, she plans to run for office in her home state of Santa Catarina in the 2002 elections.
“I think it’s possible,” said Remor, a twenty-five-year-old Brazilian native and first-year MPA student at the Marriott School’s Romney Institute of Public Management. Her state, home to a “small” population of only 5 million, is one of the most developed and industrial states in Brazil. “I know it may be too soon, considering I’ve spent so many years abroad, but I think I can make it eventually.”
Some Brazilian officials seem to think she’s got the political smarts to make it as well.
On Mar. 16, Antonio Carlos Magalhaes, president of the Brazilian Congress, will honor Remor for her award-winning paper on Brazilian politics. Remor received third place in a national essay contest celebrating the 500th year since the Portuguese landed in Brazil. The contest is sponsored by the a government think tank, Instituto Tancredo Neves, which asked participants to address the economic, political and social issues impacting Brazil at the turn of the century.
“We’re very excited about Romanna’s achievements” said Robert Parsons, director of the Romney Institute. “This is a very noteworthy accomplishment, considering only three student papers were honored. We believe she has great promise and is the kind of person that can make a difference.”
Remor’s paper discussed the political history of Brazil, implying that the political institution, not the individual politicians, impede reform in Brazil.
“There’s a lot of talk there about political reform, changing the tax system, or other economic and social problems,” Remor said. “The population thinks it’s the politicians’ fault, but it’s not. It’s how the institution was created. The political institution will have to change before any reform can take place. And that’s what’s difficult — it means the legislature will have to change itself.”
The Brazilian government, Remor argues, was imposed by the Portuguese, not developed by the Brazilian populace.
“When the first governor-general sent by Portugal docked on the coast of Brazil in 1549, he came with a complete ‘state machine,’” she said. “We had the state and the government, but no representation by the people.”
Brazil’s democratization and more recent political developments were also initiated by the government, not the citizens. Brazil’s political institutions are fragile and deficient because the people have never had a voice in their formation.
Remor came to Brigham Young University after becoming disappointed with her law school education in Brazil. Having completed her undergraduate work at BYU in international relations, Remor is now in her first year studying international public administration and finance at the Romney Institute. During her undergraduate studies, Remor returned to Brazil as a research assistant for Daniel Nielson, a BYU political science professor and expert on the Brazilian government.
“Romanna’s a remarkable individual,” Nielson said. “She’s one of the most brilliant and theoretically oriented students I’ve had — and ambitious too.”
Nielson believes Remor has what it takes to make it in Brazilian politics. “I could definitely see her elected to office,” he said. “She’s articulate, intelligent and well connected with the political establishment in her state. She has all the ingredients.”
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Writer: Peter Carr (801) 378-1512
