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

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President Lula’s second <strong>and</strong> last term in <strong>of</strong>fice, released a coherent foreign policydocument, A Política Externa do Governo Lula.It may be argued that prior to this, PT’s foreign policy – to the extent that oneexisted - had been conducted in a haphazard fashion, adhering to the traditionalpositions <strong>of</strong> the party, dating from its incarnation as a militant socialist party. Muchintellectual vigour <strong>and</strong> structure was provided by Itamaraty’s Secretary-General,Samuel Pinheiro Guimaraes, 306 who issued a number <strong>of</strong> publications, while he heldthe post <strong>of</strong> Director <strong>of</strong> the Institute <strong>of</strong> International Relations <strong>of</strong> the ForeignMinistry’s training institute, dealing with various sensitive issues in Brazilian foreignpolicy, along lines highly synonymous with the PT position. For example, hisdissident views on Brazil’s continued participation in FTAA negotiations with theUnited States were published while the negotiations were still ongoing. Thepublication <strong>of</strong> these views resulted in Guimarães’ redeployment by the ForeignMinister.PT’s former Secretary for International Affairs, Valter Pomar, admits that one <strong>of</strong>the key measures <strong>of</strong> influence <strong>of</strong> the party on foreign policy is the positioning <strong>of</strong>‘affiliated individuals in key posts’. 307 Another instrument <strong>of</strong> influence is the party’smanifesto. The impact <strong>of</strong> party preferences on Brazil’s foreign economic policyhave been uneven, with the translation <strong>of</strong> key constituents’ disapproval <strong>of</strong> theFTAA not extending to other areas, such as the continuation <strong>of</strong> the Doha Round.As noted in the PT document A política externa do governo Lula, the Braziliangovernment’s position on pressing toward the conclusion <strong>of</strong> the Doha Round, toinclude the positions <strong>of</strong> less-developed countries, is not supported by key sectors <strong>of</strong>the party’s social <strong>and</strong> political base, such as the CUT. 308Another important contribution <strong>of</strong> the party, which depends heavily on partycohesion, is the voting patterns <strong>of</strong> members <strong>of</strong> Congress, <strong>and</strong> their activities inCongress’s Commission for International Relations <strong>and</strong> National Defense.306 Email correspondence with diplomat <strong>and</strong> academic, Pr<strong>of</strong>. Paulo Roberto Almeida, 30May, 2010.307 Valter Pomar, email correspondence, July 2010.308 Email correspondence, Valter Pomar, 1 July, 2010.134

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