The Rise of Brazil and South America

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The Rise of Brazil and South America

• March 25, 2014

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Overview

• Brazilian diplomacy methods and mechanisms
• Three keys to Brazils rise
• Why South America?
• Power without leadership

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Why this case?

• Another example of FP challenges of an emerging
  power
• The role of soft power in gaining global
  influence
• The impact of cooperation between emerging powers
  in building their influence

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Brazil Emerging power

• Fifth largest country (size population)
• Eighth largest economy
• High rates of growth, stability and FDI
• Self-sufficient in energy
• Long standing diplomatic tradition
• However challenges remain
• World cup protests, favelas

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Brazilian diplomacy methods and mechanisms

• Brazilian foreign policy principles
• Sovereignty and non-intervention
• Pacifism
• Respect for international law and the defense of
  multilateralism

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Brazilian diplomacy methods and mechanisms

• Emphasis on development
• Import Substitution Industrialization (ISI)
• Political autonomy

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• The principles and objectives lead to several
  competing foreign policy traditions of Brazil
• Brazil being between pragmatic association with
  the United States and diversification
• Realist-based discourse of Brazil about world
  politics - that is state-centric and power-based
• Brazilian relations with unsavory regimes

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Three keys to Brazils rise

• The role of South America
• Multilateralism
• South-South cooperation

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The Role of South America

• Eliminate past sources of tension with Argentina
  and strengthen democratic process at home.
• Prepare Brazilian productive sector for global
  competition.
• Steps toward international recognition
• Corrective to increased US influence

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Multilateralism

• Brazil resumed and intensified its participation
  as a non-permanent member of the UN Security
  Council.
• It increased its involvement in UN peacekeeping
  missions.
• Gaining a permanent seat in the UNSC has become
  somewhat of a Brazilian obsession since the
  mid-1990s.

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South-South cooperation

• Active participant in multilateral trade
  negotiations conducted within the framework of
  GATT
• Originally favored the creation of the World
  Trade Organization as a means of creating more
  effective rules to protect its weaker members

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Why South America?

• Brazil-Argentina From Rivalry to Rapprochement
• Bilateral integration viewed as the necessary
  starting point for a wider sub-regional process
  from the start
• Seen as allowing Brazil to position itself in
  region and globally (Mercosur, FTAA, Integration
  of Regional Infrastructure, South American
  Community of Nations).

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Power without leadership

• Do see shift from non-interference to
  non-intervention
• But
• Failure to provide leadership with Colombia
• Reluctance to shoulder cost of regional
  integration
• Lack regional recognition.

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• Brazil has had to contend with at least one other
  Latin American competitor for regional power and
  influence (e.g. Venezuela).
• Brazilian diplomats cautious of openly
  questioning Washington.

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Lessons for emerging powers

• What lessons does the Brazil case suggest for
  emerging powers?

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Emerging powers Opportunities challenges

• Collaboration with other nations can play an
  important role in the rise of emerging powers
• However, can also been impediment to recognition
  as leader from those same countries
• Tension of when to collaborate with when to
  challenge major powers

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Conclusions

• See certain degree of contradiction in its
  foreign policy, in part a reflection of lack of
  vision of its place in world
• Has been able to achieve significant influence
  and power on global stage strictly through soft
  power
• Personalities of its leaders has played important
  role in its rise