Brazil as a Regional and Emerging Global Power

This policy briefing analyzes Brazil's transition toward becoming a regional and global power since 2000, driven by economic growth and a more assertive foreign policy. While Brazil has expanded its diplomatic reach and regional leadership, the author argues that its emergence remains 'open-ended' due to internal social inequalities, a risk-averse public, and a lack of a long-term strategic vision for global management.

• Since 2000, Brazil has experienced sustained economic growth and reduced social inequality, resulting in a higher income per person than China, Russia, or India. By 2007, US trade and investment in Brazil exceeded those in either Russia or India.
• Brazil has significantly expanded its diplomatic capabilities and global presence, increasing its number of career diplomats by one-third and opening embassies in three dozen countries, with a particular focus on Africa.
• Brazil has actively pursued global institutional reform, specifically regarding the UN Security Council, and is part of the 'Quartet' group in World Trade Organisation negotiations alongside India, the US, and the European Union.
• In South America, Brazil has shifted from a policy of non-intervention to one of 'non-indifference,' leading the creation of Mercosur in 1994 and mediating crises in Paraguay, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
• Despite its regional dominance, Brazil's leadership is characterized by a reluctance to pool sovereignty into supranational bodies or pay the costs associated with regional prominence, leading some smaller neighbors to view it as an 'intervening imperial power.'
• The relationship between Brazil and the United States is not a natural alliance; while interests converge on regional stability, they clash over international law, trade, and regional governance, with Brazil seeking to restrain US power.
• Brazil's potential as an emerging power is constrained by internal factors, including rampant crime in major cities, a population where roughly 15% live in poverty, and a public opinion that views outward-oriented policies as risky and costly.

APA

Spektor, M. (2009). Brazil as a Regional and Emerging Global Power. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Policy-Briefing-9.pdf

Chicago

Spektor, Matias. Brazil as a Regional and Emerging Global Power. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2009. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Policy-Briefing-9.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Spektor |first1=Matias |title=Brazil as a Regional and Emerging Global Power |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=9 November 2009 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Policy-Briefing-9.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{spektor2009brazil, author = {Spektor, Matias}, title = {{Brazil as a Regional and Emerging Global Power}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2009}, month = nov, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Policy-Briefing-9.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }