Humanism and solidarity in brazilian foreign policy under Lula (2003-2010): theory and practice

Abstract

The "humanistic" or "solidarity-based" trend in the Brazilian strategy of international insertion, adopted after the rise to power of President Lula and considered innovative, consolidated the objective of prioritizing the South-South axis and can be explained by domestic, regional, and systemic reasons. This strategy was put into practice by increasing the international aid granted by Brazil, by transferring resources and technology and by the emphasis placed on conveying to partner countries some of the domestic social policies and programmes developed successfully by the Brazilian government. The aims of this paper are: (a) to look at how this "humanism" and "solidarity" appeared in the discourse of the Brazilian authorities; (b) to discuss the reasons for them and their logic in the national, regional, and systemic dimensions; and (c) to map the initiatives adopted, the preferred partners and areas, the resources used and the intragovernmental connections necessary for their implementation. (2013) 7 (2) 8 -36 bpsr Humanism and Solidarity in Brazilian Foreign Policy Under Lula (2003-2010): Theory and Practice(engajada) (Almeida, 2004); that it sought a "sovereign presence" in the world system (Souto Maior, 2004); that it was based on a search for a new "diplomatic architecture" (Almeida, 2005); that it followed a strategy of attaining "autonomy through diversification" [of partners] (Vigevani and Cepaluni, 2007) and that it was based on a "charismatic diplomacy" that was "impossible to transfer" (Ricupero, 2010), among many other labels and adjectives. 2 Celso Amorim, Minister of Foreign Affairs during Lula's two terms in office, said in an interview immediately after his appointment to lead Itamaraty once again 3 that the country's foreign policy would be "lofty and active" (altiva e ativa). In another interview, towards the end of his eight years as Lula's foreign affairs minister, Amorim stated that he preferred to label it as "fearless and solidarity-based" (desassombrada e solidária) (Amorim, 2010).Until quite recently, few Brazilian foreign policy analysts had stressed the importance that this emphasis on "humanism" and "solidarity" had on Lula's strategy of international insertion, even if, as we will see, it was strongly present in public speeches given both by Lula and Amorim since the very beginning, and even if it was almost immediately translated into practice. Lima and Hirst (2006: 22), however, state that the "inclusion of the social agenda as a major topic of foreign affairs was one of the first and most important innovations".This new tendency of the country's foreign policy, regarded as innovative, consolidated the objective of prioritizing the South-South axis. With this objective, Brazil established closer ties to countries on the periphery of capitalism, which can be explained by domestic, regional, and systemic reasons. This strategy was put into practice, inter alia, by the increase in international aid granted, the transfer of resources and technology, and the emphasis placed on conveyin...

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