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Download - LSE Theses Online - London School of Economics and ...

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• Prevalence <strong>of</strong> human rights• Self-determination <strong>of</strong> peoples• Non-intervention• Equality among states• Defense <strong>of</strong> the peace• Peaceful settlement <strong>of</strong> conflicts• Repudiation <strong>of</strong> terrorism <strong>and</strong> racism• Cooperation among peoples for the progress <strong>of</strong> mankind• Granting <strong>of</strong> political asylum. 279The 1988 Constitution is notable, furthermore, for in addition to having formaliseddemocracy, it actually reflected the influence <strong>of</strong> conservative elements in Braziliansociety – those who desired no, or only gradual change from military rule - forexample by entrenching numerous military prerogatives that had the effect <strong>of</strong>freezing civil-military relations in democratic Brazil. 280 This founding feature <strong>of</strong>modern democracy in Brazil should not be underestimated in calculations aboutforeign policy formulation in the democratic administrations since 1985.The role <strong>of</strong> the Executive: The PresidencyAs stated in the 1988 Constitution, the responsibility for formulating foreign policyis vested in the Executive. According to an early observer writing during the militarydictatorship, “The Brazilian executive has exceptionally wide powers to h<strong>and</strong>le thebig issues <strong>of</strong> foreign policy <strong>and</strong> to shape Brazil’s foreign relations – powers thatWestern industrial countries customarily grant their leaders only in times <strong>of</strong> war”. 281While much has changed since the dictatorship ended formally in 1985, this aspect<strong>of</strong> Brazilian policymaking by <strong>and</strong> large remains the same, in spite <strong>of</strong> the expansion<strong>of</strong> the Senate’s treaty approval prerogative.279 Constitution <strong>of</strong> Brazil 1988(English translation), accessed athttp://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2006/teams/willr3/const.htm on 9 August 2010.280 See Jorge Zaverucha, Jorge, “The 1988 Brazilian Constitution <strong>and</strong> Its AuthoritarianLegacy: Formalizing Democracy While Gutting Its Essence”, Journal <strong>of</strong> Third WorldStudies, XV, No.1 (1998).281 Ronald M. Schneider, Brazil: Foreign Policy <strong>of</strong> a Future World Power (Boulder:Westview Special Studies on Latin America, 1976): 2.127

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