To what extent is it possible to integrate decentralized cooperation into the South-South dimension of Brazil's foreign policy?

Abstract

In the last two decades Brazil's sub-national governments have been increasingly active in “decentralized cooperation” structures and practices (development cooperation and other modes of bilateral or multilateral international cooperation between non-central governments). Especially since the first president from the Workers' Party was elected, the Brazilian government has encouraged decentralized cooperation between states and municipalities as a mechanism of national development. So far Brazil's sub-national governments have been far more recipients than donors of international cooperation. Now that Brazil is gaining more importance as a donor and has an increasingly active role in South-South cooperation, the federal government is striving to integrate its states and cities in this process. However, there are many factors that hamper this move and they are all related to the way decentralized cooperation has been imported to Latin America and Brazil.

Keywords: Decentralized Cooperation; Paradiplomacy; Sub-national Governments; Brazilian Foreign Policy; South-South Cooperation

Received on October 25, 2012./Accepted on October 30, 2012.