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involved in policy implementation, such as diplomats, were slightly moreforthcoming. It was nonetheless possible to gauge from published speeches,biographies and newspaper articles the types of calculations that entered into themaking of certain decisions. In the Brazilian case, the Western analyses of Brazilianforeign policy were slightly more critical and objective than those by Brazilianscholars and diplomats. In the South African case, diplomats were, unsurprisingly,defensive of South African positions, but scholars were more critical and objective.A full list of interviewees may be found in the reference list at the end of the thesis.The methodology of analysing the extent of internationalism as a conditioningfactor in foreign policy is to assess the divergence between the foreign policytraditions of the governing parties, ANC and PT, respectively, and the position ofthe state on certain issues, and as evidenced in policy planning documents andannual reports over time. This divergence, whether large or small, is mediated by theextent of the governing party’s dominance in society, and measured by the extent ofits control over domestic political institutions related to foreign policymaking, alongwith the success with which it can justify its policy proposals. With Almeida, it isrecognised that while “programmes and proposals for action are often too genericand vague to permit evaluation of their content”, the best way to examine policypositions is by looking at broad international relations themes contained in thecampaign platforms of presidential elections contested by PT [and ANC], and theprinciple statements of its candidates contesting or holding electoral office (aspresident)”. 53The thesis is a comparative foreign policy study to the extent that what is beingcompared are the behaviours and foreign policy rhetoric of two states similarly placed ininternational politics during the period under consideration. Both states opted forheightened diplomacy and rhetoric focused on equitable representation inmultilateral institutions, the peaceful settlement of international disputes, noninterferencein the domestic affairs of other states, and South-South solidarity. Howdid their respective domestic political and economic contexts contribute to these53 Paulo Roberto de Almeida, ‘A política internacional do partido dos trabalhadores: dafundação à diplomacia do governo Lula’, Revista de Sociologia e Política, No. 20 (June2003): 89.41