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Chapter 7: The New Internationalists? South Africa,Brazil, MINUSTAH and the exile of Jean-BertrandAristide“Maybe our media and opposition will ask again how much does it cost, who is going to pay and what is in it for us.For us, the saving of lives, stopping wars and contributing towards peace, democracy, human rights and developmentcannot be reduced simply to rands and cents. What is in it, for us, is peace.”South African Foreign Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, on South Africa’s participation inpeacekeeping in Burundi. 606“Quem defende novos paradigmas nas relações internacionais, não poderia omitir-se diante de uma situaçãoconcreta. 607 ”Lula da Silva, Speech at the 49 th General Assembly, 21 September, 2004, in reference to Brazil’sparticipation in Haiti.IntroductionSouth Africa and Brazil represent two prominent examples of Southern statesembarking on internationalist foreign policies, whether for structural or unit-levelreasons, or a combination of both. In this chapter an examination of a case ofinternational crisis in which both states were involved provides a unique test case ofeach of their actions and their motivations, where it has been possible to uncoverthese. Haiti represents a ‘turning-point’ decision for each country, in the sense thatit required the allocation of resources – military, political, and economic - to aninternational issue. A turning point decision, as noted in Chapter 1, is distinct froma state’s general objectives and verbal strategies; and, routine actions conducted by astate’s diplomatic machinery.The case of state failure in Haiti, and the measures taken by South Africa and Brazil,are examined to shed light on their motivations and capacities in an area in whichneither can be said to have had pressing national interests. What is at stake in theirrespective responses to the crisis? What can neoclassical realism tell us about it?Haiti represents a significant opportunity for the appraisal of internationalism in theforeign policies of South Africa and Brazil. This is because it involves another‘Southern’ or developing state; assistance required the choice of sides in the conflict,606 Department of Foreign Affairs, 2004. Budget Speech, p13.607 “Whoever seeks to defend new paradigms in international relations, cannot shy awaywhen faced with a concrete situation”. Author’s translation.240