Dilemmas of Brazilian Grand Strategy

Abstract

The Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) is part of the U.S. Army War College and is the strategic level study agent for issues related to national security and military strategy with emphasis on geostrategic analysis.The mission of SSI is to use independent analysis to conduct strategic studies that develop policy recommendations on:• Strategy, planning and policy for joint and combined employment of military forces;• Regional strategic appraisals;• The nature of land warfare;• Matters affecting the Army's future;• The concepts, philosophy, and theory of strategy; and• Other issues of importance to the leadership of the Army.Studies produced by civilian and military analysts concern topics having strategic implications for the Army, the Department of Defense, and the larger national security community.In addition to its studies, SSI publishes special reports on topics of special or immediate interest. These include edited proceedings of conferences and topically-oriented roundtables, expanded trip reports, and quick reaction responses to senior Army leaders.The Institute provides a valuable analytical capability within the Army to address strategic and other issues in support of Army participation in national security policy formulation. The views expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. Authors of Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) publications enjoy full academic freedom, provided they do not disclose classified information, jeopardize operations security, or misrepresent official U.S. policy. Such academic freedom empowers them to offer new and sometimes controversial perspectives in the interest of furthering debate on key issues. This report is cleared for public release; distribution is unlimited. Report Documentation Page FOREWORDOver the past 20 years, Brazil has made great strides in consolidating a multiparty democracy, taming macroeconomic instability, and attacking deep-seated social issues like poverty and exclusion. It has also become an ever more important player in the global arena, assuming a key role in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions, South American economic and political integration, debates over world trade and politics, and other issues.Given Brazil's growing regional and global influence, it is imperative that U.S. policymakers achieve a fine-grained understanding of Brazilian foreign policy and the motivations that drive its leaders. In this monograph, Hal Brands critiques Brazilian grand strategy as it has developed over the past 8 years in the administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Brands acknowledges the sophistication and accomplishments of Lula's grand strategy, but he argues Brazil still confronts several challenging strategic dilemmas-ranging from persistent internal problems to the increasingly competitive nature of its relations with the United States-that could negatively impact its geopolitical potentia...

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