From the governability crisis to the legitimacy crisis: the impacts of the political crisis on Brazilian foreign policy

Abstract

During the Dilma Rousseff government, the Brazilian foreign policies took many elements from the previous Brazilian presidency. However, during her government, the foreign policy of the country ends up losing its policy dynamics and proactive approach, becoming a mere reactionary policy. Greater degradation was avoided due to the presence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in regional and global multilateral spaces maintaining the fulfillment of the Brazilian diplomacy principles. Michel Temer assumed the power promising economic growth and the de-ideologization of Brazilian foreign policy. These promises were made in the middle of the questioned impeachment process of Rousseff and countless accusations of corruption pointing to Temer. With foreign policy “proud and active” becoming something of the past, Brazil suffered a significant loss of relevance in the international plan while dissidents emerged in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.