The Rhetoric and Reality of Brazil’s Multilateralism

Brazil’s Emergence in the United States’ ‘Backyard’: Domestic Leadership and Systemic Status

“…In terms of defense capabilities, Brazil lacks hard power. Subsequently, it has sought to constrain US regional hegemony, regional instability and alignment of regional interests through multilateral organizations (Bosco & Stuenkel 2015). Hurrell (2019) supplements that President Lula avoided military build-up to prevent a collective security dilemma among its neighbors, thus making it an 'authentic power for peace' (Vishwanathan 2019).…”

“…Many foreign policy decisions aligned with Brazilian national interest as envisaged by the elites were seen as challenges to American dominance and norms. Brazil innovated the 'Responsibility While Protecting' corollary against the NATO-led offensive in Libya in 2011 to reject US-led humanitarian intervention in the UN (Bosco & Stuenkel 2015). Lula's government was perceived to be closer to Beijing than Washington, with China becoming the largest trading partner in 2009 (The Brazilian Report 2020).…”

“…Lula's government was perceived to be closer to Beijing than Washington, with China becoming the largest trading partner in 2009 (The Brazilian Report 2020). Another point of contention was the formation of the G20 (Group of Twenty) led by Brazil to bring together developing countries to balance the dominance of the US and European Union in the World Trade Organization (WTO), altering the 'logic of multilateralism' (Bosco & Stuenkel 2015). In line with this, Brazil has demanded enhanced representation in Bretton Woods Institutions, and these persistent demands increased its voting shares in 2010.…”

“…In line with this, Brazil has demanded enhanced representation in Bretton Woods Institutions, and these persistent demands increased its voting shares in 2010. Brazil played an instrumental role in preventing the US-led Free Trade Areas of the Americas (FTAA) in 2005 while strengthening regional organizations to contain US influence (Bosco & Stuenkel 2015). Finally, Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was ousted in a coup in 2009, widely believed to have been orchestrated by the US federal foreign intelligence organization, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), but was reversed by regional bodies led by Brazil (Vishwanathan 2019).…”

O multilateralismo: conceitos e práticas no século XXI

“…A presença do Brasil nas instituições multilaterais em sido caracterizada por uma atitude crítica, da qual o apelo para a reforma das Nações Unidas e do Conselho de Segurança é a mais evidente, mas também das estruturas económicas como o Fundo Monetário Internacional (FMI) ou o Banco Mundial. No entanto, esta postura tem, em alguns momentos, um peso retórico elevado (Bosco e Stuenkel, 2015), pois embora o Brasil reclame a democratização das relações internacionais e a igualdade soberana de todos os Estados nas organizações internacionais, simultaneamente, pretende tornar-se parte do sistema internacional recorrendo ao soft power, no qual o multilateralismo é uma das faces. Enquanto Middle Power 8 , as estratégias do Brasil são coerentes com esta categoria na medida em que "o objetivo primordial das Middle Powers é criar regras e instituições de governação global" nas quais está presente uma certa noção de "responsabilidade global" (Flemes, 2009: 403-404).…”