foreign policy during the cardoso administration (1995-2003)
TRANSCRIPT
FOREIGN POLICY DURING THE CARDOSO
Administration (1995-2003)
Biographical Highlights
President of Brazil (1995-2003)
Son of a Army general from Rio de Janeiro
Academic◦ Political economist◦ Graduate work in USA
Founder of Brazilian Social Democratic leaders
Reputation gained by taming inflation during administration of President Itamar Franco
Emphasis on “soft power”
Brazilian sift power used to reshape international environment with “regimes”more favorable to Brazilian interests
Military power downplayed
Military balance seen as less important
Emphasis on economic power
Transitory economic recovery Economic downturn 1986-87 Writing a new constitution (1987-88)
◦ Constitutional convention dominated by traditional political class
◦ Two rounds of voting for president if no candidate has first round majority
◦ Senate & Chamber of deputies favors traditional areas of the country
Rebuild international credibility on the basis of internal stability ◦ Trustworthiness facilitates some foreign
investment◦ International good will toward Brazil increases
Tony Blair Bill Clinton
◦ Residual negative feelings toward Brazil persist Low rate of economic growth limits limits
possibility of using foreign policy to gain strategic advantage
* Explicit acknowledgement of the “central position” of USA in world order* Limits “special relationship”
1997 – Clinton visits Latin America 2001 - Cardoso at White House
1997 – Brazil signs Nuclear non-proliferation Treaty
Put off FTTA for as long as possible
Relations grew more rocky toward end of Cardoso’s second term
* Cooperation with Argentina’s Carlos Menem
* Mercosul consolidated as a customs union◦ Joint adherence with
Argentina into NNPT◦ Defense of democracy
* Movement to transform Mercosul into a common market (Oro Preto Protocol – 1994)
Mercosur/Mercosul's flag in the city of Brasília, Brazil
Signed Marrakesh Protocol – created WTO
Priority given to multilateral organizations
Assistance provided for Brazilian business◦ Subsidies to Bombardier
by Canadian gvt. ◦ Pressure on U.S.
pharmaceudicals to break patents on NIV/Aids drugs
Functions:• Administering WTO trade agreements• Forum for trade negotiations• Handling trade disputes• Monitoring national trade policies• Technical assistance and training for developing countries• Cooperation with other international
organizations
* Cardoso visits China twice * In 2002 China becomes # 2 trading partner with Brazil
Trade between Brazil & India hardly increases
Charles Tang, Chairman of the Brazil-China Chamber of Industry & Commerce
Cardoso & Putin
Trade increases but remains small
Portugal◦ Purchase of privatized
state companies◦ Increased Brazilian
presence in Portuguese speaking Africa
◦ Peace keeping mission to Angola
Cuba ◦ Relations stable◦ Cardoso constant critic
of U.S. economic embargo
Japan ◦ Important trading
partner◦ Did not participate in
purchase of privatized Brazilian companies
◦ Ties strengthened with Japanese-Brazilian community
January 1, 2003Democratic transition from from Fernando Henrique Cardoso
to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva