Living in the crossfire : Favela residents, drug dealers, and police violence in Rio de Janeiro /

Alves (State and Opposition in Military Brazil) and Evanson (history, emeritus, Temple Univ.) have produced a timely look at Rio de Janeiro's favelas, or slums, which, with their narrow streets, crowded conditions, and spotty infrastructure, sprouted in the mountains above the city. With the world descending on Rio for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, Brazil is focused on public security. Drug trafficking is rampant in the favelas, but the policy against the bandidos historically has been one of repression, causing dangerous confrontations with the police and bystander deaths and injuries. Most of the book consists of interviews with favela residents, police, and government officials. The community members' interviews are most compelling, as they detail not only the violence and threat of violence they live with daily but also the strong sense of community and hope for better days. The interviews with officials are at times frustrating; they are defensive and excuse the current situation as an inherited problem and hide behind the Brazilian constitution. At times, the interviewers lose their objectivity, especially with the government officials. VERDICT An important book for sociology and human rights collections that will also appeal to readers interested in crime and politics.-Karen Sandlin Silverman, Ctr. for Applied Research, Philadelphia (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.