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4.2.3. International OutlookBrazil’s international outlook is coloured by a fervent nationalism and theaccompanying desire to occupy a position of status in international society. UnderLula, a social agenda has risen to prominence within Brazil’s foreign policy. Threatperception, according to some analysts, is hence primarily in terms of “economicand not military/security motivations”. 313 Yet, this perception makes light of thetense battles Brazil has engaged in over the potential diminution of its sovereignty inthe Amazon, and other environmental questions. Security as a motive should not bediscarded altogether, but should be expanded to take in Brazil’s concern withmaintaining its freedom of action in the Amazon, and its desire to balance theinfluence of ‘the other Left’ represented by Chavez in Venezuela and Morales inBolivia. Brazil has also been a thorny client of the International Atomic EnergyAgency, refusing to allow full access to nuclear facilities, and even labelled “aserious challenge to the IAEA’s authority”. 314 There are some concerns over Brazil’sfuture nuclear intentions. 315Considering the factors enumerated above, it appears that the monolithicimpression created by Itamaraty’s longstanding prominence as the cornerstone ofBrazilian foreign policy is being somewhat undermined. This position is beingeroded by the profusion of new actors in Brazilian foreign policy, especially at thefederal level. The inclusion of other ministries, which have the necessary skills attheir disposal, means that Itamaraty requires an update of its relevance to theincreased pace of economic, environmental and agricultural diplomacy in whichBrazil is involved. Partido dos Trabalhadores has been able to manipulate neitherforeign policy nor public opinion in its favour as easily as the expectation of its twocomfortable electoral victories in 2002 and 2006 might generate. Brazilian foreignpolicy principles outstrip both Itamaraty and PT in longevity, and have served thecountry reasonably well over nearly two centuries. Therefore, there would beunderstandable reluctance to make major changes to these principles.313 Lima and Hirst, “Brazil as an intermediate state”, 22.314 Liz Palmer and Gary Milhollin, “Brazil’s Nuclear Puzzle”,Science, 306 (2004).315 Feldman, Yana. No date. “Brazil”. SIPRI website. Accessed athttp://www.sipri.org/research/disarmament/nuclear/researchissues/past_projects/issues_of_concern/brazil/brazil_default on 5 May, 2011.136