Intro to Comparative Government: Unrest over FIFA in Brazil

Here's a comparison of GDP per capitas and their rankings according to the CIA Factbook (2013):

228. Congo: $400
105. Brazil: $12,100
13. U.S.: $52,800
1. Qatar: $102,100

Technically, San Marino was the lowest ranking on the list, but it was for specific reasons that aren't important to this post. Congo has the second lowest GDP of the 229 countries listed on the CIA Factbook. Brazil's GDP per capita falls in the upper 50% of this list and their GDP is slowly continuing to grow.

Despite the increase of income to Brazil, its citizens are unhappy. They see their government spending millions of dollars on the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2014, but they ask themselves, "Where was this money when I was and am still suffering from poverty?"

Here are a few facts:

There are 12 host cities with ambitious infrastructure plans (such as fast railway systems airport terminals, etc), but the building projects are being plagued by riots and protests by the citizens. Expecting around 200,000 visitors for the event, the organizers' intention was to boost the economy with tourism and business amongst the regions, however they've been met with opposition. The protesters are trying to delay the World Cup, soccer's biggest tournament, from happening. NPR focuses on Mato Grosso, Cuiaba's capital and one of the host cities:

I think Brazil, not just Mato Grosso, she says, was not ready for the World Cup. Mato Grosso will be penalized because of the World Cup due to the bad management of the government, which has no spending priorities, she says. It will leave a legacy of debt (NPR).

There are only 65 days left until the the FIFA World Cup (June 12, 2014).