International drivers of Brazilian agricultural cooperation in Africa in the post-2008 economic crisis

Abstract

This text focuses on the major drivers of Brazilian agricultural cooperation in Africa as conceived and pursued from 2004 to 2014, with emphasis on the impacts of political and economic international changes that took place in that period, and particularly the impacts of the 2008 economic crisis, in framing Brazil's foreign policy and development assistance initiatives. It addresses current international forces and developments at the systemic level, but also analyses recent economic domestic developments, in particular those directly related to Brazilian agriculture and those related to the policy framework of its evolving internationalization. Special attention is paid to the dual dimensions of Brazilian agricultural policy and to its projection in agricultural cooperation as pursed in Africa.

The hybrid operationalization of Brazilian maritime security cooperation in the South Atlantic: an analysis of the West African case between solidarity rhetoric and pragmatic interests

“…In addition, the increasing engagement of other emerging powers, into a space that Brazil aims to control, and the intensification of global threats that would have worsened the stability, peace and development of the African countries and consequently of the neighbourhoods, pushed Brazil to cooperate also into the maritime security and defence field. However, we understand that the broadening of the areas of cooperation of Brazil with West African countries and the inclusion of a matter of hard politics also respond to the desire of the country of being a more proactive and exemplar partner for the Global South (LEITE, 2011;VAZ, 2015), based on the historical similarities, the common experiences of underdevelopment and dependence from the North and the inclusion within an identity group of Southern countries (Global South), aimed to strengthen their position vis-à-vis the hegemonic and asymmetric structures of the international system (ABDENUR; DE SOUZA NETO, 2014a;KENKEL, 2013). Of course, the need to safeguard national interests, both political and diplomatic, as well as energy ones, other than just economics, continue to be considerable factors (AGUILAR, 2013).…”

“…A vast majority of the academic literature is describing the Brazilian engagement with the Africa as benevolent and altruistic, interested in the promotion of an universal idea of solidarity and development of the global South, held on mutual reciprocity, assistance and learning, as well as responsibility, respect and recognition among countries (DOELLING, 2008;HARSCH, 2004;KRAGELUND, 2010). This naive and cooperative role of Brazil seems to be overstated by both academic and diplomatic discourses that rely exclusively on the idea of solidarity of SSC, ignoring those factors that influence a more pragmatic, and self-interested role of Brazil in the international system, and that might have somehow supported the creation of a new asymmetric configuration of forces within the international system, with Brazil attempting to assert its growing global position (LEITE, 2011;MIGON;SANTOS, 2012;VAZ, 2015).…”

“…By focusing on the maritime security and defence cooperation, Brazil has been oriented towards the protection of the oceanic waters in cooperation with African countries and within international frameworks, aimed to guarantee its national interests (oil production, maritime control, defence industry among others) (AGUILAR, 2013), to enhance some benefits and advantages in the power competition with other international actors, and to secure its growing position as assertive global player (LEITE, 2011;VAZ, 2015) and the regional predominance in the South-Atlantic (MIGON;SANTOS, 2012).…”

“…The Brazil-Africa cooperation in agriculture is based on the technical assistance of the Southern giant in agricultural programmes in African countries(VAZ, 2015) and the engagement in and the development of "tropical agriculture", that has received more attention from scholars. This sector has met in the African continent a significant recipient market, given the understanding of the role played by agriculture in the development of countries and peoples, also recognized by the NEPAD (New Partnership for African Development)(CABRAL et al, 2013).…”