Brazil-Africa Relations : Historical Dimensions and Contemporary Engagements, From the 1960s to the Present

Fills an important gap in the study of Africa's international relations and its engagement with rising economies in the Global South. When Lula da Silva became President of Brazil in 2003 he declared Africa a priority of his country's ambitious global foreign policy. During his presidency, Brazil became one of the key emergent powers in Africa through strengthening political ties, development cooperation and trade with the continent. While, the Dilma and Temer presidencies had other political priorities, strong links with the continent continued to exist. The authors trace the longhistory of Brazil-Africa relations from the early 16th century and the slave trade, through their decline during European colonialism, their resurgence following many African countries' independence, fluctuations during Brazil's military rule in the 1960s and '70s, to the expansion of its interests under Lula and the first years under Dilma. Taking a broad range of perspectives, they examine: the way in which the rights of those of African descent have become increasingly recognized without having brought racial equality; the strengthening of bilateral and multilateral links with the continent and the growth of South-South cooperation; and Brazil-Africa relations in the South Atlantic context. The final chapter looks at the wider implications of the present political and economic crises for Brazil's future foreign policy in Africa, and the likely impact of new president Jair Bolsonaro elected in late 2018. Gerhard Seibert is Lecturer at the Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira (UNILAB), Brazil; Paulo Fagundes Visentini is Historian and Full Professor of International Relations at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). Frontcover Contents List of Illustrations Notes on Contributors Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Introduction: Brazil–Africa Relations – Historical Dimensions and Contemporary Engagements from the 1960s to the Present 1 Brazil–Africa Relations from the 16th Century to the 20th Century Introduction Africa in Brazil; Brazil in Africa Brazil’s withdrawal from Africa Independent foreign policy: Brazil’s return to Africa Military rule: Brazil realigns with Washington and Lisbon In search of oil and export markets: Strengthening relations with Africa Conclusions 2 Brazil–Africa Relations under Globalisation: From Adaption to Consolidation Introduction Historical background The 21st century and the emergence of a multidimensional Africa policy Economic diplomacy: Trade and investment Technical, educational and social cooperation Brazil–South Africa partnership The multilateral dimension of African diplomacy A new interaction between Brazil and Africa: The neo-Pentecostal churches in Africa Conclusions: Prestige, cooperation or business? 3 The Multilateral and Regional Dimensions of Current Brazil–Africa Relations Introduction Multilateral diplomacy on the world stage Multilateral cooperation at the regional level Conclusions 4 Brazil’s Development and Financial Cooperation with African Countries Introduction The scale and regional impact of Brazil’s development cooperation in Africa Technical cooperation: Concepts and projects Main national partners and sectors of technical cooperation Military and financial cooperation in Africa Conclusions 5 The South Atlantic in the Framework of Brazil–Africa Relations Introduction The historical importance of the South Atlantic to Brazil– Africa relations Brazil and the South Atlantic The geo-economic dimension: Cooperation and development The geo-strategic dimension: The urgent consolidation of a peace and cooperation zone Political and strategic coordination and cooperation for development: The cases of the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone (ZOPACAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) The South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone (ZOPACAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC): The increasing relevance of the South Atlantic The Euro-American response Conclusions 6 Africa in Brazil: Slavery, Integration, Exclusion Introduction: The heritage of slavery for Afro-descendants The transition from slave labour to free labour The emancipatory laws Brazilian racial identity The theory of whitening The reality of Brazil’s Afro-descendant population Organisations of black women A milestone in racial equality Africa and the Afro-descendant movement in the 20th century Affirmative action policies The persistent challenge of educational inclusivity The Afro-descendant black women and the media The state’s role in the promotion of racial equality and affirmative action policies Conclusions 7 Brazil–Africa Relations After Lula: Continuity Without Priority Introduction The Dilma Rousseff administration (2011–16) The Michel Temer administration (2016–18) Declining trade and investments International cooperation Multilateral dimensions of Brazil–Africa relations Conclusions Conclusions Brazil–Africa Relations: A Chronology Bibliography Index When Lula da Silva became President of Brazil in 2003 he declared Africa a priority of his country's ambitious global foreign policy. Since then, Brazil has become one of the key emergent powers in Africa by strengthening political ties and trade with the continent. While, due to a worsening economy, the Dilma and Temer presidencies have other political priorities, strong links with the continent continue to exist. The authors trace the long history of Brazil-Africa relations from the early 16th century and the slave trade, through their decline during European colonialism, their resurgence following many African countries' independence, fluctuations during Brazil's military rule in the 1960s and '70s, to the expansion of its interests under Lula and the first years under Dilma. Taking a broad range of perspectives, they examine: the way in which the rights of those of African descent have become increasingly recognized without having brought racial equality; the strengthening links of Brazilian Pentecostal Churches; the growth of South-South cooperation; and Brazil-Africa relations in the South Atlantic context. The final chapter looks at the wider implications of the present political and economic crises for Brazil's future foreign policy in Africa, and the impact of the new leadership in late 2018. Gerhard Seibert is lecturer at the Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira (UNILAB), Brazil; Paulo Fagundes Visentini is Professor of Economics and International Relations at the Brazilian Centre of Strategy and International Relations, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). In association with the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) "When Lula da Silva became President of Brazil in 2003 he declared Africa a priority of his country's ambitious global foreign policy. During his presidency, Brazil became one of the key emergent powers in Africa through strengthening political ties, development cooperation and trade with the continent. While the Dilma and Temer presidencies had other political priorities, strong links with the continent continued to exist. Tracing Brazil-Africa relations from the early 16th century and the slave trade, through their decline during European colonialism, resurgence following many African countries' independence, the ups and downs during Brazil's military rule in the 1960s and '70s, to the expansion of its interests under Lula and during the Dilma and Temer years, the authors show their long history. Taking a broad range of perspectives, they examine: the way in which the rights of those of African descent in Brazil have become increasingly recognized without having brought racial equality; the strengthening of multilateral links with the continent and the growth of South-South cooperation; and Brazil-Africa relations in the South Atlantic context. The final chapter looks at the wider implications of the present political and economic crises for Brazil's future foreign policy in Africa, and the likely impact of new president Jair Bolsonaro elected in late 2018." -- Provided by publisher Edited By Gerhard Seibert And Paulo Fagundes Visentini. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 257-272) And Index.