Journal: Brazil’s foreign policy and the eternal quest for Latin American integration

 "Brazil’s foreign policy and the eternal quest for Latin American integration"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Cuadernos Iberoamericanos

Vol. 8, No. 3, 2020

Originally published: https://doi.org/10.46272/2409-3416-2020-8-3-10-23

Abstract

Brazil has historically been regarded as the natural leader of Latin America, given its level of development, the size of its economy, its military might and its ambitious foreign policy. This image was cemented during the presidencies of Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff, who supported Latin American integration (particularly via the creation of such blocs as UNASUR and CELAC) and diminishing Washington’s historical influence in the Western Hemisphere. However, the situation has dramatically changed with the rise to power of President Jair Bolsonaro, a staunch supporter of the US in general (and President Donald Trump in particular), which has affected Brazil’s role in the region. Based upon the analysis of specific domestic and foreign policy components, the author draws conclusions on how Brazil’s prospects as a participant (or even the key motivator) in the transformation processes in the region have changed. Brazil is no longer perceived as the axis of attempts at regional integration, but rather “just another separate state” taking care of its own interests. Brazil’s economic crisis and Bolsonaro’s strategy (or the lack thereof) regarding the COVID-19 pandemic have negatively affected Brazil’s image even further. Then again, as this analysis seeks to demonstrate, Latin America has a mixed record when it comes to integration attempts, as regional governments are zealous guardians of national sovereignty. Hence, while there have been some successful regional thrivings towards promoting cooperation, the rise of some supranationalist organization similar to the European Union – is a dream. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as Latin American (and Caribbean) blocs do not need supranationalism to be effective, but it shows the limits of regional integration initiatives.

Keywords

Brazil, Latin America, Caribbean, South-South cooperation, geopolitics, supranationalism, integration

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For citation:

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Sánchez W.A. Brazil’s foreign policy and the eternal quest for Latin American integration. Cuadernos Iberoamericanos. 2020;8(3):10-23. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.46272/2409-3416-2020-8-3-10-23

 

Capian Policy Center: AIFC: The Rise of Virtual Arbitration Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

"AIFC: The Rise of Virtual Arbitration Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez
Opinion
Caspian Policy Center
April 13, 2020

Originally published: https://www.caspianpolicy.org/aifc-the-rise-of-virtual-arbitration-amid-the-covid-19-pandemic/

Governments, businesses, industries, and people worldwide are adapting to the “new normal” that is the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Investment and commercial arbitration is no different.


The AIFC in 2020

Kazakhstan’s Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), opened its doors in 2018 and has striven to become the premier financial and investment hub not only for Kazakhstan, but also for Eurasia. Its bodies include the Astana International Exchange (AIX), the AIFC Court, which can handle cases related to finance, construction, trade, insurance, IP, energy, subsoil, and contracts, and the International Arbitration Centre (IAC). The Centre’s rules resemble those of the leading arbitration bodies around the world, such as the London Court of International Arbitration and the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre. The IAC has 37 international arbitrators, according to the Center’s website.


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