Fernando Henrique Cardoso is a Brazilian sociologist and politician who served as the 34th President of Brazil from 1995 to 2002. He is known for implementing economic reforms that stabilized the country's economy and reduced inflation. His administration focused on social programs aimed at reducing poverty and improving education. Before his presidency, Cardoso was a prominent academic and co-authored the influential book "Dependency and Development in Latin America." He also served as Minister of Finance, where he played a key role in the creation of the Real Plan, which helped to control hyperinflation in the early 1990s.