The protests were sparked by anger at a rise in public transport fare prices in Sao Paulo on 2 June but have since mushroomed into much broader discontent with high levels of corruption, the poor state of the health and education services and the high cost of living.
Brazil is a massive and fast developing country. Fast developing countries experience the issue of a large rich/poor divide, you only need to look at China for evidence. Unfortunately there is no magic wand scenario for appeasing the poor immediately, it will take time.
You also have to factor in that Brazil is currently the only country in South America with an F1 race.
Losing Formula 1 in Brazil would probably cost more in terms of social impact, as it's a well supported and highly regarded sport in that region.
F1 may not have the same effect on lower classes around the world, but then Ayrton Senna is immortalized in Brazil close to being a patron saint.
The issue of malcontent in Brazil is different to that of Bahrian I would have thought. As the primary mover in Bahrain was demonstrators demanding a greater say in government and an end to what Shias say is systematic discrimination against them in jobs and services.
A very different situation.
