Since almost 19 months, Brazil has a new president: Dilma Rousseff, the first woman to take office and the first time that the president is not a candidate from the opposition to the former government. Her success is mainly attributed to the fact that Dilma, Lula da Silva’s
former cabinet chef, was advertised as “candidate of the Lulism” (de Carvalho Cruz Pires, 2011, p. 1) who could not run a third consecutive time himself due to legislation (“Lula da Silva”, 2011). Reports supposed first that Dilma would merely be an “interim president” till Lula could run again for elections in 2014 (Souza, 2011, p. 87). But soon, Dilma reached popularity rates of 77% which is even higher than the rates of Lula in his second year of
presidency (Comenalli, 2012) who once has been called “the most popular politician on earth” by Barack Obama (“Obama: Lula is”, 2009). Even though several reports point out that while essentially sticking to the main points of her predecessor (Sader 2011, Löwy 2012) Dilma managed to step out of Lula’s shadow (Bryson 2011). However, a thorough analysis of her first 19 months is still missing. By examining her stand to various global issues and her
diplomatic strategy, the following will discuss Dilma's role in foreign affairs, especially her standpoint in comparison to her predecessor Lula. The retrospective on Lula is especially important when considering the statement of Richard Bourne who points out that in the presidential constitutional republic of Brazil, its citizens align themselves much more with a candidate than with a party (2008, p.213). Before going into achievements and plans in foreign policy, a short historical overview of Dilma's political career and her visions, both nationally and internationally, will be given. Neither the comparison nor the review of Dilma's foreign policy agenda is meant to be all-encompassing but should rather be seen as an exploration of Dilma's first 19 months as President with the aim to answer the question what other nations can expect from Dilma for the rest of her term.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Political Biography of Dilma Rousseff and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
3. Environmental Policy
4. Diplomatic Strategy: Overview of Presidential Trips
5. Relationship between Brazil and the United States
6. Relationship between Brazil and Europe
7. Regional Cooperation: Mercosul and Unasur
8. Cooperation within the BRICS
9. Bilateral Relations with China
10. Cooperation with IBSA Countries
11. Specific Focus on Developing Countries
12. Global Cooperation and the U.N. Security Council
13. Relationship with Iran
14. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
The paper examines the diplomatic strategy of Dilma Rousseff during her first 19 months in office, analyzing how she navigates Brazil's foreign policy in relation to major powers, emerging economies, and regional neighbors while maintaining the legacy of her predecessor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
- Continuity and change in Brazilian foreign policy under the Rousseff administration.
- Bilateral relations with the United States, Europe, China, and Iran.
- Brazil's role in regional organizations like Mercosul and Unasur.
- Participation in the BRICS and IBSA alliances.
- Environmental policies and their impact on international perception.
Excerpt from the Book
Relationship between Brazil and the United States
During Lula's administration, the U.S.-Brazilian relationship was rather difficult as Lula was suspicious of U.S. domination which he showed by for example blocking the creation of the FTAA, a Free Trade Area of the Americas. However, the United States were still the third important trade partner under the Lula Administration (Sader, 2011, p. 32). Dilma on the other hand showed already at the beginning of her term that she is much more open for U.S.-Brazilian cooperation (Bryson 2011): On 9 April 2012 Dilma paid a visit to Barack Obama to discuss the relationship between the two countries. They both agreed on pushing the bilateral partnership with an emphasis on science, education and technology, especially in regard to sustainable energy and environment, economic competitiveness, trade and investment in areas such as deep-sea oil exploration, biotechnology and renewable energy. Moreover, they both emphasised cooperation for two coming world scale events, the FIFA World Cup 2014 and the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2016 in Brazil (Joint statement by President Barack Obama and President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil, 2012, p. 1), especially in regard to investment in infrastructure.
More critical commentators however pointed out that the relationships between the two countries is not as cosy as it seems at first sight (Farago, 2012). As it is pointed out by Joao Augusto de Castro Neves, the U.S. is at the moment still reluctant to give Brazil the attention it wants, especially the support for receiving a permanent seat in the U.N. Security Council which he mainly attributes to "bureaucratic inertia" (de Castro Neves, 2012). Dilma furthermore criticised Obama for his sanctions against Iran which could heighten tensions in the Middle East. She also condemned the expansionist monetary policies of the U.S. which – as she claims - eventually impair the growth of developing nations ("Brazil complains about monetary policy", 2012).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the background of Dilma Rousseff's presidency and sets the research focus on her diplomatic strategy during the first 19 months.
2. Political Biography of Dilma Rousseff and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva: Compares the personal backgrounds and political careers of both leaders to identify differences and similarities in their governance.
3. Environmental Policy: Discusses domestic environmental challenges, such as the Forest Code and dam construction in the Amazon, and their international implications.
4. Diplomatic Strategy: Overview of Presidential Trips: Analyzes the geographical focus of Rousseff's foreign travel to map her diplomatic priorities.
5. Relationship between Brazil and the United States: Examines the shift toward more open cooperation compared to the Lula era while noting ongoing tensions.
6. Relationship between Brazil and Europe: Explores Brazil’s role as a trading partner and its contributions to addressing the European debt crisis.
7. Regional Cooperation: Mercosul and Unasur: Reviews Brazil's commitment to regional integration and its reaction to political crises in neighboring countries like Paraguay.
8. Cooperation within the BRICS: Analyzes Brazil's strategic positioning within the BRICS alliance and its impact on global influence.
9. Bilateral Relations with China: Describes the growing economic importance of the China-Brazil trade relationship.
10. Cooperation with IBSA Countries: Details the deepening collaboration with India and South Africa in development and global governance.
11. Specific Focus on Developing Countries: Investigates Brazil's targeted diplomatic engagement with countries like Cuba, Angola, and Mozambique.
12. Global Cooperation and the U.N. Security Council: Discusses Brazil's ambition to gain a permanent seat and its influence in international bodies.
13. Relationship with Iran: Examines the significant policy shift and differences in stance between Rousseff and Lula regarding Iran's nuclear program.
14. Conclusion: Synthesizes the main findings and provides an outlook on the remainder of Rousseff's term.
Keywords
Dilma Rousseff, Brazil, Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, Lula da Silva, BRICS, Mercosul, Unasur, International Relations, United States, Europe, China, Iran, Economic Growth, Human Rights
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this publication?
The paper provides a comprehensive review of the diplomatic strategy pursued by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff during her first 19 months in office.
What are the core thematic areas discussed in the document?
Key themes include bilateral relations with global powers, regional leadership within Latin America, environmental policy, and Brazil's participation in multinational alliances like the BRICS.
What is the primary objective of the research?
The goal is to analyze whether Dilma Rousseff is continuing the foreign policy agenda of her predecessor, Lula, or if she is carving out a distinct diplomatic path for Brazil.
Which scientific methodology does the work employ?
The study uses a qualitative analysis approach, synthesizing reports, speeches, and international commentary to evaluate the direction of Brazilian foreign policy.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body systematically analyzes Brazil's relationships with the U.S., Europe, China, and Iran, along with its commitments to regional groups and its aspirations for the U.N. Security Council.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
The research is characterized by terms such as Brazilian foreign policy, diplomatic strategy, BRICS, Mercosul, and the political transition from Lula to Rousseff.
How does Rousseff's stance on Iran differ from that of her predecessor?
Rousseff has taken a more critical stance on Iran, distancing herself from Lula's former closeness and supporting international proposals concerning human rights monitoring.
What significance do presidential trips hold in the analysis?
Presidential trips are used as an analytical tool to visualize and quantify Brazil's diplomatic focus, highlighting an emphasis on Latin America, the U.S., and emerging economies.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Nora Görne (Autor:in), 2012, Dilma Rousseff and the World: A Review of Her Diplomatic Strategy, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/204160
