Description

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During much of the military regime in Brazil (1964-1985), an elaborate but illegal system of restrictions prevented the press from covering important news or criticizing the government. In this intriguing new book, Anne-Marie Smith investigates why the press acquiesced to this system, and why this state-administered system of restrictions was known as “self-censorship.”
    Smith argues that it was routine, rather than fear, that kept the lid on Brazil's press. The banality of state censorship-a mundane, encompassing set of automatically repeated procedures that functioned much like any other state bureaucracy-seemed impossible to circumvent. While the press did not consider the censorship legitimate, they were never able to develop the resources to overcome censorship's burdensome routines.

About the Author

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Anne-Marie Smith received her Ph.D. in political science and is an independent consultant in Washington, D.C., writing on issues of international development and conflict resolution.

Praise For…

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“A Forced Agreement is an excellent analysis of press-state relations. She has done the necessary research to make this a useful foundation for years to come. Her study of the alternative press is the first I have ever seen on the topic and is simply outstanding.”
--Luso-Brazilian Review

“This is a significant [book] about an important subject, thorough and well-written.”
—Peter McDonough