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

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foreign policy, should not be allowed to obscure analysis <strong>of</strong> its broader, moreexpansive, foreign policy objectives.8.4. Future directions: BrazilThe uppermost echelon <strong>of</strong> Brazilian foreign policy leadership under Lula was singlemindedin its objective <strong>of</strong> raising Brazil’s international pr<strong>of</strong>ile after the comparativepliancy <strong>of</strong> the Cardoso years. While ideational factors, stemming from theconfluence <strong>of</strong> the nationalistic Ministry <strong>of</strong> External Relations <strong>and</strong> the antiimperialistWorkers Party, certainly contributed to Brazil’s new activism, financialstability <strong>and</strong> incremental economic growth, along with the improvement <strong>of</strong>domestic consumption, helped to propel Brazil’s international ambition, <strong>and</strong> toprovide the country with the all-important resources to fulfil it.Brazil’s growth is nowhere near that <strong>of</strong> China or India, but under PT, Brazil may beexpected to continue to consolidate <strong>and</strong> exp<strong>and</strong> its involvement in internationalquestions. This is particularly plausible given the increasing domestic popularsupport 716 for Brazil’s heightened status in international society. Under Brazil’s newpresident, Dilma Rousseff, the relationship between the military establishment <strong>and</strong>the executive will become all the more important in the determination <strong>of</strong> Brazil’sinternational goals <strong>and</strong> indeed, Brazil’s international identity, which has hithertobeen crafted remarkably – for a state that experienced military rule for 20 years -free <strong>of</strong> militarism. The increasing dependence <strong>of</strong> the national government on themilitary for pacifying the Amazon, <strong>and</strong> defending Brazilian sovereignty there,reserves for the army a special place in Brazilian security discourse once more. Thisis underlined by the recommendations <strong>of</strong> the unprecedented Brazilian NationalStrategy <strong>of</strong> Defense <strong>of</strong> 2008, which included emphasising the indigenisation <strong>of</strong> Brazil’sarms supply; <strong>and</strong>, re-visiting the question <strong>of</strong> compulsory military service, amongother issues. 717716 The former Foreign Minister, Celso Amorim, cites a Pew Poll indicating that some 78percent <strong>of</strong> Brazilians supported the manner in which Brazil’s foreign policy has beenconducted in recent years. See Amorim, “Overview”, 239.717 Brazilian Ministry <strong>of</strong> Defense. 2008. National Strategy <strong>of</strong> Defense.295

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