This book is the first to describe the role of business interest groups, also known as pressure groups, in the development of Brazil during the nineteenth century. Business interest groups strongly affected the modernization and prosperity of agriculture, the pace of industrialization, and patterns of communications. The commercial associations, the most important of business interest groups, also may be seen as institutions through which ties of dependency to better-developed nations overseas were maintained.

This book is the first to describe the role of business interest groups, also known as pressure groups, in the development of Brazil during the nineteenth century. Business interest groups strongly affected the modernization and prosperity of agriculture, the pace of industrialization, and patterns of communications. The commercial associations, the most important of business interest groups, also may be seen as institutions through which ties of dependency to better-developed nations overseas were maintained.