ABSTRACT
In spite of a broadly based middle- and upper-class mobilization to pressure the military government, the generals stuck with their own plan and maintained the slow pace of democratization. Learning from observation of the ruthless apparatus of repression mounted by the Argentine army while it was in power, the Brazilian army began to have second thoughts and to contemplate returning government to the civilians before losing all their own popular support and respect. Tancredo Neves had earned the respect of millions of Brazilians during the difficult years of the dictatorship. He had been a leader of the opposition in the senate, patiently seeking openings and developing programs that would ameliorate the sufferings of the poor. The Catholic bishops and some of the unions began in 1982 to plan a national movement to promote agrarian reform, anticipating the civilian government and a full and extended debate before the Brazilian people.
