ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses how regionalism and regional policy have evolved in the Brazilian context. Regional programmes and actions were implemented under the responsibility of the Ministry for National Integration, in charge of regional development. Brazil de Todos included a specifically regional dimension aimed at the reduction of regional disparities. Regional planning in Brazil has developed out of proposals aiming at the reduction of spatial fragmentation itself the result of the diversity of territories, climates, demographic characteristics and other cultural traits. Jaguaribe has conceptualized Brazil's complex regional mosaic in terms of different but interrelated societal processes that represent cultural, participatory, political and economic subsystems. The political subsystem refers to the command and/or decision-making structure within a given global and regional regime of political power. The national development corridors focused on long-distance transport infrastructure with the aim of increasing capacities and lowering operational costs, thus facilitating access to markets and improving competitiveness for regional products and economic systems.
