Fernando Henrique Cardoso served two terms as president of the Federative Republic of Brazil from January 1, 1995, to January 1, 2003, winning both elections with an absolute majority. As president of Brazil, Dr. Cardoso strengthened political institutions, increased economic stability and growth, and expanded educational opportunities for all Brazilians while promoting human rights and development. During his tenure, high school enrollments expanded by more than one third, and the number of students entering college each year doubled. Dr. Cardoso’s emphasis on improving health care in poor rural areas resulted in a 25 percent decrease in infant mortality. As his term drew to a close, Brazilians named Dr. Cardoso the best president in their history in a poll published in December 2002. The United Nations Development Program also recognized his work with the inaugural Mahbub ul Haq Award for Outstanding Contribution to Human Developmen
Dr. Cardoso currently chairs the Club of Madrid and the High Level Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations-Civil Society Relations and serves as co-chairman of the Inter-American Dialogue and as coordinator of the working group in charge of reviewing the process of Ibero-American Summits. He is also emeritus professor of political science at the University of São Paulo. His main works in English include Charting a New Course: The Politics of Globalization and Social Transformation (2001, M.Font editor) and Dependency and Development in Latin America (with E. Faletto, 1979). He has received honorary doctorates from universities in Chile, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Venezuela. Dr. Cardoso is also foreign honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
