Defence in Brazilian foreign policy during Lula da Silva's administration (2003-2010)

Abstract

Throughout Brazilian History, the relationship between defence and diplomacy was not a close one. Historical conditions reinforced the difficulties between these two grammars of foreign policy. Among them, the main ones were a transition to democracy overseen by the military, relative autonomy of the Armed Forces, lack of international threat perception, a non-confrontational diplomatic profile and the relative autonomy of Brazilian diplomats. Issues regarding defence and diplomacy were imperfectly articulated, as the diplomatic and military subordination to the interests of the political power were not a main concern. During Cardoso's administration (1995-2002), through the publication of the 1996 National Defence Policy and creation the Ministry of Defence in 1998, the president altered this relationship, although it remained an imperfect one. The lack of control over the military was one of the main reasons for these actions. During Lula da Silva's administration (2003-2010) there were signs of changes on the relationship between diplomacy and defence. At the time, Brazil's diplomatic action straightened relations with South America, South Atlantic, emerging and less developed countries, both on business and political realms. Similarly, on the area of defence, Brazil created the South American Defence Council and led the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti. Also, the government renewed its legal and institutional framework in the area, highlighting its focus on South America and South Atlantic, some of them were very similar to those historical interests of the Armed Forces. Considering this context, this research aims to analyze the relationship between the strategic and diplomatic axis of Brazilian foreign policy during Lula da Silva's administration. The analysis will focus on the similarities and differences between defence and diplomacy in foreign policy discourse and political practice, bearing in mind the role of ideas on the foreign affairs. (AU)