Brazilian foreign policy

The fact that brazil is sensation of the most(prenominal) essential emerging acress can not be denied. There is no question that this demesne leads the pack when it comes to economic and political supremacy in the grey part of the American continent. This has been made possible by the desire of this country to become a regional and spheric power to reckon with. To this end, most of the presidents that catch ruled this nation since the end of the military rule in the 1980s have come up with unconnected policies that can be viewed as assuming an international bearing while at the aforementioned(prenominal) duration trying to maintain the sovereignty of this nation.Most notable of these foreign policies is the one that is select by the current Brazilian president. When Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took the direct of this country in 2003, he came up with a foreign indemnity that seemed to be in contrast in some ways to his antecedents. Fernando Henrique Cardosos foreign p olity, when compared to that of Lula, shows some remarkable differences. Lula has been vocal in opponent the hegemony that is associated with American foreign policies.He tries to create an economic and political system that is individual on the American influence while at the same been recognised by America as an equal, rather than a puppet of the American government. This stance seemed to be criticized when he essential a brief traffichip, a close one, with George W. Bush when he came to power in 2002. This may be the reason why his foreign policies have been regarded as been inconsistent. barely he maintains a pessimistic view of the globalization phenomenon. He regards it as the motherfucker that is used by the rich nations to stifle and exploit both the suffering and the emerging nations.This paper is going to take a critical look at Lulas foreign policy. The strong points of his policy will be reviewed, as well as the weaknesses and challenges. Lulas Foreign Policy self -assertive? According to Hurrell (51), Lula can be draw as having taken a stand on international system that can be described as been mildly interesting. He views this international system with doubt, but goes in advance to say 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 excerptd saying that creating friction with capital letter is to lose (Hurrell 53). This government activity was not seen as defending the interests of this Latin American nation sufficiently. Lula seek to adapt a different style, aided by his supporters in the Workers Party. Lula stress the fact that the instability of the international system coupled by the centralization of powers in few hands was not a recipe for the evolution and sovereignty of Brazil.He was of the view that United States, together with a handful of allies, held far-off too much power in the international arena, such that if anything were to progress to them, it will affect most of the worlds nations negatively (Hurrell 51). He has always pointed to the current economic crisis as an example of how blunders committed by the wealthy nation of the world led to miseries of the poor nations. His disdain for the developed nations was evident when he talked down on Gordon Brown in a press conference in March 2009. He made the quote that made international manoeuverlines for days.This crisis was caused by whiter people with blue look (sic). they delusive to know all about economics (SkyNews 2009). He said this in front of Gordon brown, one his so called white people with blue eyes. Apart from showing how much he detested western powers, this financial statement was a clear indication of the fact that Lula does not fear these close 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 other head of state that can be exp ected to furbish up such a statement is maybe the Muslim leaders. But a president from a reportedly friendly nation to the AmericansLula contends that the hyped global economy is more noxious than it is beneficial 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 arrow to this is the current economic crisis. There is also a lot of variety both internally and externally. This is because global trade benefits few individuals inside the topical anesthetic anesthetic economies and few nations in the international arena. Lulas administration has always seek to maintain the autonomy of this nation in the international arena (Hurrell 52).But at the same clock, it needs to function ties with other nations a rhythm method of birth control the world. Lula has concentrated in forming ties with other emerging nations, shunning the western and developed c ountries (Barriaux 1). This will lower the external vulnerabilities associated with disassociation with the world superpowers. That is why Lula has shunned the North Americans Free Trade Area. Instead, he has resorted to qualificationening regional cooperation with neighbors like Uruguay, Paraguay and others crosswise the continent like South Africa, china and India (Fitzpatrick 1).Lula has started to give Washington screaming meemies when it became obvious that he was intent in exploitation Brazilian nuclear 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 winning? His policies have been hailed by many people as been a achievement composition. This is considering the fact that countries which have tried to defy the western superpowers have fall by the way side.But Brazil blazes ahead, albe it jerkily, even after defying America Washington and London. But still, some critics have been opining that Lulas foreign policy is inconsistent. But maybe, the consistency of Lulas foreign policy lies in its inconsistency. Perhaps the strength of his foreign policy lies in these so called inconsistencies. Brazil has always well-kept a tough stance when it came to global trade. She was defiant that no dispose of low quality goods from foreign economies will be done on her economy.This was contradicted when Lulas administration acknowledged China as a mart economy (Fitzpatrick 1). This was in 2004. What this means is that Brazil can not cheque the flow of low quality goods from China. China is known for her tendency to scarf out 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 prognosticate to get a permanent slot at the United Nations bail Council (Fitzpatrick 1). This was seen as inconsistency 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 signed a deal with Hu Jintao that would see Brazil export a total 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 overmuchness of 10-billion dollar (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 long suit of exchange when the two countries were conducting trade.This is the consistency of Lulas inconsistent foreign policy that the writer is talking about. Lula, by signing the contract with the Chinese government, express his desire of cementing ties with other nations apart from the West. Brazil is a gross exporter of bucolic products, and this is the backbone of her e conomy (Fitzpatrick 1). When Lula and his lieutenants 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 designing as ever. He led a boycott of the Doha round table talks in 2003, leading a group of growing nations out of the venue until the developed nations addressed their concerns. Celso Amorim, the foreign minister, led a successful crusade against subsidies that the European Union and America offered to their farmers (Fitzpatrick 1). All this was gear 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 control 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 lev erage such that he is able to shun the western nations and at the same time make himself relevant to them. He has opted for this organization while at the same time resisting the Free 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 ride 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 trade economy, and thus 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 Rising 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.