Fernando Henrique Cardoso

In 2005 Fernando Henrique Cardoso was chosen as one of the World’s top one hundred and one living intellectuals by the British magazine, Prospect. This was deserved recognition for his achievements in society and politics over the previous two decades.

Professor Cardoso was born in Rio de Janeiro but has spent most of his life in the Brazilian city of São Paulo. He was a student of sociology and went on to become a Professor of Political Science and Sociology at the University of São Paulo. His political life began in 1982 when he was elected Senator of the State of São Paulo and, following his re-election to the senate in 1986, he became the leader of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB). From October 1992 to May 1993 he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and from May 1993 until April 1994 he served as Minister of Finance and introduced the successful Plano Real scheme to end hyperinflation. In October 1994 Cardoso was elected as President of Brazil and went on to serve two consecutive terms in this office, finally stepping down in 2003.

Since he left public office, Professor Cardoso has dedicated much of his time to the institute which bears his name in São Paulo. Moreover, owing to his reputation and high-standing on the world stage, he has held many academic and private positions outside Brazil. Among other high profile roles, he is a member of the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton University, an honorary foreign member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and, following his Presidency, he began a five year term as professor-at-large at Brown University’s Watson Institute for International Studies. In February 2005 he spoke at the Library of Congress, Washington DC, where he gave the fourth annual Kissinger Lecture on Foreign Policy and International Relations. Fernando Henrique Cardoso is also a renowned author.