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This introductory chapter frames the research puzzle, outlines the researchobjectives of the thesis, as well as its argument, and methodology. Reasons areprovided for the case selection of South Africa and Brazil, as well as Haiti; and, thebroader significance of the research is explained. The chapter closes with an outlineof the structure of the thesis.1.2. Research ObjectivesThe research question to be addressed by this thesis is:To what extent does internationalism condition, i.e. limit, the foreign policies of South Africa andBrazil?What will count as examples of ‘internationalism’? They will be instantiated by casesin which governments commit resources, both material and political, tointernational action that has no immediate material benefit for the state in question.This includes committing troops to multilateral peacekeeping operations; disbursingaid; and, adopting strong positions on conflicts and crises that have no immediateand direct impact on their material position, i.e. affecting their security or economicgrowth prospects. A more detailed discussion of internationalism is provided inChapter 2.The thesis examines the extent to which two leading leftist movements as politicalparties have influenced the foreign policies of the states they govern, otherwisesimilarly placed in international affairs, affecting their determination to act withrestraint on issues of international importance, privileging the peaceful resolution ofdisputes, the primacy of multilateralism, the principle of non-interference, 9 andsolidarity with the developing world. The research objective is to account fordivergence in the levels of influence of Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT) 10 and theAfrican National Congress (ANC), and how this affects foreign policy outcomes.9 The terms ‘non-interference’ and ‘non-intervention’ are used interchangeably in thisthesis. They refer to a belief in diplomacy as the key method by which a state mayattempt to influence the behaviour of other states, on the basis of mutually-recognisedsovereignty and self-determination. The moral rectitude and legal permissibility ofintervention, as well as the extent of actions that qualify as intervention, are a matter ofscholarly and international political debate.10 PT will at times also be referred to by its English name, the Workers’ Party.21