Country Profile: Brazil

FIKRI FAHRUL FAIZ / 1110114000029
IR INTERNATIOONAL
COUNTRY PROFIL: BRAZIL
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Repblica Federativa do Brasil), is the
largest country in both South America and the Latin American region. It is the world's fifth
largest country, both by geographical area and by population, with over 193 million people. It is
the largest Lusophone country, which Portuguese is official language, in the world, and the only
one in the Americas. In the 2010 census 64.6% of the population declared themselves as Roman
Catholic, 22.2% as Protestant, 8% as non religious, and 5.2% as followers of other religions
(mostly Spiritists or Kardecists who follow the doctrines of Allan Kardec, Umbandists,
Candomblers, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, and minorities of Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, and
other groups).
Brazil was a colony of Portugal beginning from the landing of Pedro lvares Cabral in 1500, up
until 1815, when it was elevated to the rank of kingdom upon the formation of the United
Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves. The colonial bond was in fact broken in 1808
when the capital of the Portuguese colonial empire was transferred from Lisbon to Rio de
Janeiro, after Napoleon invaded Portugal. Independence was achieved in 1822 with the
formation of the Empire of Brazil, a unitary state governed under a constitutional monarchy and
a parliamentary system. The country became a presidential republic in 1889, when a military
coup d'tat proclaimed the Republic, although the Congress dates back to the ratification of the
first constitution in 1824. Its current Constitution, formulated in 1988, defines Brazil as a federal
republic. The Federation is formed by the union of the Federal District, the 26 States, and the
5,564 Municipalities.
The form of government is that of a democratic republic, with a presidential system. The
president is both head of state and head of government of the Union and is elected for a four-year
term, with the possibility of re-election for a second successive term. The Union, the states and
the Federal District, and the municipalities, are the "spheres of government." The Federation is
set on five fundamental principles: sovereignty, citizenship, dignity of human beings, the social
values of labour and freedom of enterprise, and political pluralism. The classic tripartite branches
of government (executive, legislative, and judicial under a checks and balances system), is
formally established by the Constitution. Brazil has had a multi-party system, lead by four
biggest political parties wich are Workers' Party (PT), Brazilian Social Democracy Party
(PSDB), Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), and Democrats (DEM).
Foreign Policy of Brazil
Brazil is now one of political and economic leaders in Latin America. Currently the country has
aimed to strengthen ties with other South American countries and pursue multilateral diplomacy
through the United Nations and the Organization of American States. Brazil's foreign policy is a
by-product of the country's unique position as a regional power in Latin America, a leader
among developing countries, and an emerging world power. Brazilian foreign policy has
generally been based on the principles of multilateralism, peaceful dispute settlement, and nonintervention in the affairs of other countries. Brazil engages in multilateral diplomacy through
the Organization of American States and the United Nations, and has increased ties with
developing countries in Africa and Asia. Brazil is currently commanding a multinational U.N.
stabilization force in Haiti, the MINUSTAH. Instead of pursuing unilateral prerogatives,
Brazilian foreign policy has tended to emphasize regional integration, first through the Southern
Cone Common Market (Mercosul) and now the Union of South American Nations.
Brazil is also committed to cooperation with other Portuguese-speaking nations through jointcollaborations with the rest of the Portuguese-speaking world, in several domains which include
military cooperation, financial aid, and cultural exchange. This is done in the framework of
CPLP, for instance. Lula da Silva's recent visit to Africa included State visits to three
Portuguese-speaking African nations (Angola, So Tom and Prncipe, and Mozambique).
Finally, Brazil is also strongly committed in the development and restoration of peace in East
Timor, where it has a very powerful influence.
Brazil's political, business, and military ventures are complemented by the country's trade policy.
In Brazil, the Ministry of Foreign Relations continues to dominate trade policy, causing the
country's commercial interests to be (at times) subsumed by a larger foreign policy goal, namely,
enhancing Brazil's influence in Latin America and the world. For example, while concluding
meaningful trade agreements with developed countries (such as the United States and the
European Union) would probably be beneficial to Brazil's long-term economic self-interest, the
Brazilian government has instead prioritized its leadership role within Mercosul and expanded
trade ties with countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Brazil's soft power diplomacy
involves institutional strategies such as the formation of diplomatic coalitions to constrain the
power of the established great powers. In recent years, it has given high priority in establishing
political dialogue with other strategic actors such as India, Russia, China and South Africa
through participation in international groupings such as BASIC, IBSA and BRICS. The BRICS
states have been amongst the most powerful drivers of incremental change in world diplomacy
and they benefit most from the connected global power shifts.
Sources
http://www.brazil.org.za/foreign-relations-and-the-military.html
Portal Brazil, http://www.brasil.gov.br
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/brtoc.html

Country Profile: Brazil

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FIKRI FAHRUL FAIZ / 1110114000029

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