Race and Regionalism in the Politics of Taxation in Brazil and South Africa [Paperback]

This book demonstrates the relationship between the politics of identity and the concrete policy area of taxation.Nationally-specific definitions of citizenship proved decisive for the development of the Tax State in Brazil and South Africa in the 20th century. Although both countries had been divided along racial and regional lines in the late 19th century, watershed constitutions addressed these political problems in very different ways. South Africa's institutionalized white supremacy created a level of political solidarity that contributed to the development of a highly progressive and efficient tax system. In Brazil, federalism and official non-racialism proved more divisive, making the enactment and collection of progressive taxes much more difficult.Nationally-specific definitions of citizenship proved decisive for the development of the Tax State in Brazil and South Africa in the 20th century. Although both countries had been divided along racial and regional lines in the late 19th century, watershed constitutions addressed these political problems in very different ways. South Africa's institutionalized white supremacy created a level of political solidarity that contributed to the development of a highly progressive and efficient tax system. In Brazil, federalism and official non-racialism proved more divisive, making the enactment and collection of progressive taxes much more difficult.Evan Lieberman's analysis focuses on the politics of taxation as a way of understanding the development of governments. He compares Brazil and South Africa because of their similarities: They are upper-middle-income countries, and highly unequal--both in terms of income and racial status. Lieberman argues that different constitutional approaches to race (whether or not to grant equal citizenship to blacks) and federalism (whether to have it or not) shaped the organization of politics in the two countries, leading to the development of very different tax systems. The flÓv