Brazilian foreign policy

The item that brazil nut is whiz of the most important appear nations can non be denied. There is no doubt that this ground leads the pack when it comes to economic and political supremacy in the s come outhern jump of the American absolute. This has been do possible by the bank of this inelegant to amaze a regional and global power to reckon with. To this end, most of the presidents that return ruled this nation since the end of the military rule in the 1980s swal wretched come up with exotic policies that can be viewed as assuming an global look while at the self identical(prenominal) clock trying to save the reign of this nation.Most no postpone of these foreign policies is the one that is espouse by the up-to-date Brazilian president. When Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as well ask the helm of this country in 2003, he came up with a foreign insurance that seemed to be in contrast in some ways to his predecessors. Fernando Henrique Cardosos foreign policy, when com pared to that of Lula, shows some remark fitted differences. Lula has been vocal in opposing the hegemony that is associated with American foreign policies.He tries to create an economic and political system that is independent on the American influence while at the similar been recognized by America as an equal, rather than a puppet of the American government. This positioning seemed to be criticized when he developed a brief relationship, a stiff one, with George W. Bush when he came to power in 2002. This may be the indicate why his foreign policies have been regarded as been inconsistent. besides he maintains a bearish view of the globalization phenomenon. He regards it as the tool that is employ by the rich nations to stifle and exploit two the poor and the acclivitous nations.This paper is going to take a critical look at Lulas foreign policy. The strong points of his policy go away be reviewed, as well as the weaknesses and challenges. Lulas Foreign Policy Assertive ? match to Hurrell (51), Lula can be described as having taken a domiciliate on international system that can be described as been mildly interesting. He views this international system with doubt, but goes ahead to secern that it is possible for brazil to maintain an activist and assertive foreign policy (Hurrell 51).Cardosos foreign policy was regarded as not been assertive enough. He was once quoted saying that creating friction with Washington is to lose (Hurrell 53). This administration was not seen as defending the interests of this Latin American nation sufficiently. Lula sought to aline a different style, aided by his supporters in the Workers Party. Lula emphasized the incident that the instability of the international system coupled by the centralization of powers in few hands was not a recipe for the development and sovereignty of Brazil.He was of the view that United States, to arse abouther with a handful of allies, held far too much power in the international are na, such that if anything were to happen to them, it will affect most of the humannesss nations negatively (Hurrell 51). He has always pointed to the current economic crisis as an example of how blunders committed by the pie-eyed nation of the world led to miseries of the poor nations. His disdain for the developed nations was plain when he talked down on Gordon Brown in a weightlift conference in March 2009. He made the quote that made international headlines for days.This crisis was caused by whiter people with blue eyes (sic). they pretended to go through all about economics (SkyNews 2009). He give tongue to this in prior of Gordon brown, one his so called white people with blue eyes. obscure from showing how much he detested western powers, this carryment was a clear indication of the fact that Lula does not fear these greedy westerners. He will stand by what he believes to be the truth, even if it did not go down well with the whites. The only early(a) head of state that can be expected to make such a mastery is maybe the Muslim leaders. But a president from a reportedly friendly nation to the AmericansLula contends that the hyped global deliverance is more injurious than it is serious to the emerging nations (Hurrell 52). By this form of trade, the western nations entrench themselves in the world political and economic arena, while crises are created for the poor. A pointer to this is the current economic crisis. There is also a lot of inequality both internally and remotely. This is because global trade benefits few individuals inside the local economies and few nations in the international arena. Lulas administration has always sought to maintain the autonomy of this nation in the international arena (Hurrell 52).But at the same time, it needs to forge ties with other nations around the world. Lula has concentrated in forming ties with other emerging nations, shunning the western and developed countries (Barriaux 1). This will mitigate the external vulnerabilities associated with disassociation with the world superpowers. That is why Lula has shunned the North Americans freehanded Trade Area. Instead, he has resorted to strengthening regional cooperation with neighbors like Uruguay, Paraguay and others across the continent like South Africa, china and India (Fitzpatrick 1).Lula has started to give Washington jitters when it became demonstr commensurate that he was intent in developing Brazilian thermonuclear technology (Hurrell 52). His administration is engaged in industrial secrets. But at the same time, he is wise enough to maintain friendly relations with the nuclear inspection teams that have been deployed to Brazil. Lulas Foreign Policy Successful? His policies have been hailed by many people as been a success story. This is considering the fact that countries which have tried to defy the western superpowers have fallen by the way side.But Brazil blazes ahead, albeit jerkily, even after defying America W ashington and London. But still, some critics have been opining that Lulas foreign policy is inconsistent. But maybe, the concurrence of Lulas foreign policy lies in its inconsistency. Perhaps the strength of his foreign policy lies in these so called inconsistencies. Brazil has always maintained a tough stance when it came to global trade. She was defiant that no dumping of low quality goods from foreign economies will be done on her economy.This was contradicted when Lulas administration acknowledged China as a market economy (Fitzpatrick 1). This was in 2004. What this means is that Brazil can not stop the guide of low quality goods from China. China is known for her tendency to flood the international economy with her cheap, low quality goods. This is death sentence to the local industries. Brazil has resisted this until this point in time. China refused to back Lula in his bid to get a permanent slot at the United Nations Security Council (Fitzpatrick 1). This was seen as inc onsistency in Lulas stance of an autonomous nation.However, in 2009, Lula was in Beijing. This was perhaps payback time for China. While he was there, he gestural a deal with Hu Jintao that would see Brazil export a contribute of 200,000 barrels of crude oil to Beijing (Barriaux 1). Also, a loan was offered to him from the Chinese government that was to spur development in Brazil. This was in excess of 10-billion dollar bill (Barriaux 1). He took his disdain of the American regime there when he said that plans were underway to abandon the American dollar as the medium of rallying when the two countries were conducting trade.This is the consistency of Lulas inconsistent foreign policy that the source is talking about. Lula, by signing the contract with the Chinese government, expressed his desire of cementing ties with other nations apart from the West. Brazil is a gross exporter of country products, and this is the sticker of her economy (Fitzpatrick 1). When Lula and his lieu tenants take the pessimistic and negative regard of the global market, one is left wondering where Lula plans to sell the entire Soya from this country.However, Lula has been calculative as ever. He led a boycott of the Doha round table talks in 2003, leading a group of developing nations out of the venue until the developed nations addressed their concerns. Celso Amorim, the foreign minister, led a self-made crusade against subsidies that the European Union and America offered to their farmers (Fitzpatrick 1). All this was geared towards safeguarding the agricultural exports of the country. Lula has worked hard to revive Mercosur, the regional trade bloc of the Latin American nations (Hurrell 55).This is assign that he is interested in asserting regional assert and influence in this region. Been a member of this organization, Lula will be able to bargain with the Americans and Britons when it comes to trade matters. This has given Lula leverage such that he is able to shun the we stern nations and at the same time make himself germane(predicate) to them. He has opted for this organization while at the same time resisting the discontinue Trade Area espoused by United States. Conclusion Lula has adopted a foreign policy stance that is bold but at the same time risky.He has sought to assert the presence of the Brazilian nation in the global arena while at the same time refusing to crucify on the tail coats of the developed nations, like America. He has a pessimistic view of the global economy. This is risky considering the fact that Brazil is an exporting economy, and and so has to rely on the global market for success. Lula has tried to forge coalitions with other emerging nations like India and China. This way, Lula has eliminated the external vulnerability that the western countries would have taken advantage of by alienating Brazil with the rest of the developing nations.References Barriaux, M. C. Lula Signs financial Agreements with Beijing. Retrieved from http//news. yahoo. com/s/afp/20090519/wl_asia_afp/chinabrazildiplomacytradecurrency_20090519162806, on 13th June, 2009. Fitzpatrick, J. K. Inconsistency of Brazils Foreign Policy. Retrieved from http//www. brazzil. com/2005-mainmenu-79/159-december-2005/9491. html, on 13th June, 2009. Hurrell, S. A. Lulas Brazil A procession Power, but Going Where? Oxford Oxford University, 51-57. SkyNews. White People with Blue Eyes. Retrieved from http//www. foxnews. com/story/0,2933,510954,00. html, on 13th June, 2009.