Brazil’s Rise to the Global Stage: Humanitarianism, Peacekeeping and the Quest for Great Powerhood (BraGS), 2017

As a new player in the field of humanitarian assistance, Brazil has brought a new form of moral and strategic motivations to the table. However, humanitarian action also serves Brazil's regional and international ambitions as a rising power. This project looked at the drivers behind this engagement: What does Brazil achieve, in terms of direct benefits as well as in terms of symbolic influence, from investing in the international diplomacy of humanitarianism and protection? It may seem a paradox for this widespread and rapidly increasing international engagement to emerge at a time when Brazil itself is still a developing country by many standards and experiencing a recent economic slowdown. This puzzle, however, draw attention to other drivers beyond excess of wealth, namely what motivates Brazil and what it aims to achieve through these investments, whether in the form of direct benefits, or indirectly in the form of increased symbolic power and influence, regionally and internationally. Through its engagement, Brazil has sought to reconceptualize both humanitarianism and peacekeeping, in line with its more principled stance on sovereignty, nonintervention and less conditionality.

For further information about ”Brazil’s Rise to the Global Stage: Humanitarianism, Peacekeeping and the Quest for Great Powerhood (BraGS), 2017”, please contact the principal investigator.