Date of Award
5-2014
Document Type
Thesis
Department
Political Science
First Advisor
Patrick Donnay
Abstract
With the Middle East putting an embargo on oil in 1973, oil prices ascended to levels that made importation of oil expensive. Brazil also faced another issue with sugar prices going down in 1973, putting much of their sugar supply on reserve. Brazil’s military government then made a decision to adopt the sugarcane-based ethanol program, Pro-Alcool. Pro-Alcool’s goal was to produce an alternative energy source to gasoline and take pressure off of oil importation. While initially intended to be a short-term fix, a second oil strike in 1979 pushed Pro-Alcool to higher levels. Oil industries were initially opposed to ethanol production, and the auto industry was hesitant to produce ethanol-based vehicles. Brazil would adopt democracy in 1985 which would lead to the end of Pro-Alcool in 1991. This would lead to a decline in ethanol production through the 1990’s. Ethanol would, however, find revitalization with new technology and a new coalition of advocates that would include the sugarcane industry, Petrobras, and the auto industry pushing ethanol production to a new level within Brazil.
Recommended Citation
Gagner, Joshua, "The Political History of Sugarcane-based Ethanol in Brazil" (2014). Political Science Theses and Capstones. 66.
https://pines.bemidjistate.edu/capstone-polisci/66
Included in
Economic History Commons, Growth and Development Commons, International Economics Commons, Latin American History Commons, Latin American Studies Commons, Oil, Gas, and Energy Commons, Other Business Commons, Other Environmental Sciences Commons, Political Economy Commons, Political History Commons, Public History Commons, Social History Commons
