Since almost 19 months, Brazil has a new president: Dilma Rousseff, the first woman to take office and the first time that the president is not a candidate from the opposition to the former government. Her success is mainly attributed to the fact that Dilma, Lula da Silva’s
former cabinet chef, was advertised as “candidate of the Lulism” (de Carvalho Cruz Pires, 2011, p. 1) who could not run a third consecutive time himself due to legislation (“Lula da Silva”, 2011). Reports supposed first that Dilma would merely be an “interim president” till Lula could run again for elections in 2014 (Souza, 2011, p. 87). But soon, Dilma reached popularity rates of 77% which is even higher than the rates of Lula in his second year of
presidency (Comenalli, 2012) who once has been called “the most popular politician on earth” by Barack Obama (“Obama: Lula is”, 2009). Even though several reports point out that while essentially sticking to the main points of her predecessor (Sader 2011, Löwy 2012) Dilma managed to step out of Lula’s shadow (Bryson 2011). However, a thorough analysis of her first 19 months is still missing. By examining her stand to various global issues and her
diplomatic strategy, the following will discuss Dilma's role in foreign affairs, especially her standpoint in comparison to her predecessor Lula. The retrospective on Lula is especially important when considering the statement of Richard Bourne who points out that in the presidential constitutional republic of Brazil, its citizens align themselves much more with a candidate than with a party (2008, p.213). Before going into achievements and plans in foreign policy, a short historical overview of Dilma's political career and her visions, both nationally and internationally, will be given. Neither the comparison nor the review of Dilma's foreign policy agenda is meant to be all-encompassing but should rather be seen as an exploration of Dilma's first 19 months as President with the aim to answer the question what other nations can expect from Dilma for the rest of her term.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Dilma Rousseff: A Political Biography
- The Visions of Dilma Rousseff and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
- Environmental Policies
- Dilma Rousseff's Diplomatic Strategy
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to provide an analysis of Dilma Rousseff's first 19 months as President of Brazil, focusing on her diplomatic strategy and foreign policy decisions. It compares her approach to that of her predecessor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and examines her overall impact on Brazil's international relations.
- Comparison of Dilma Rousseff's and Lula da Silva's political careers and visions.
- Analysis of Dilma Rousseff's domestic policies and their international implications.
- Examination of Dilma Rousseff's diplomatic strategy and its focus areas.
- Evaluation of Dilma Rousseff's environmental policies and their international reception.
- Assessment of the broader impact of Dilma Rousseff's presidency on Brazil's international standing.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory section sets the stage for the analysis by outlining the context of Dilma Rousseff's presidency—the first female president of Brazil and a candidate from the same party as her predecessor, Lula da Silva. It highlights the existing literature, noting a gap in thorough analyses of her early presidency, and establishes the paper's objective: to explore her role in foreign affairs during her first 19 months in office and what this suggests about her future term. The introduction also emphasizes the importance of understanding the Brazilian political landscape, where voter allegiance often rests more with candidates than parties.
Dilma Rousseff: A Political Biography: This chapter details Dilma Rousseff's life and political career, highlighting her activism against the Brazilian military regime, her imprisonment and torture, and her subsequent rise through the ranks of the PDT and PT parties. It contrasts her background and political style with that of Lula da Silva, emphasizing her image as a more technocratic and less charismatic leader. The chapter sets the foundation for understanding her leadership style and its potential influence on her foreign policy.
The Visions of Dilma Rousseff and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva: This chapter compares the political visions of Dilma Rousseff and Lula da Silva. While their backgrounds differ significantly – Lula from a poor family, Dilma from an upper-middle-class one – their goals for Brazil show remarkable similarities. Both prioritized tackling extreme poverty and social inequality. The chapter contrasts their approaches to these goals, noting Lula's reliance on instinct and personal connection to the working class and Dilma's emphasis on more structured reforms and technological solutions. The chapter also discusses Dilma's commitment to women's rights and her dedication to fighting corruption, echoing Lula's previous efforts.
Environmental Policies: This chapter focuses on Dilma Rousseff's environmental policies, highlighting the controversy surrounding amendments to the Forest Code. The amendments, influenced by agribusiness interests, sparked international criticism and prompted a partial veto from Dilma. This section emphasizes the tension between economic development and environmental protection under her administration, contrasting her stance with that of Lula who had also pursued large-scale hydroelectric projects that faced environmental concerns. The chapter underscores the global attention given to Brazil's environmental policies and questions the extent to which Dilma's administration can balance economic growth with ecological sustainability.
Dilma Rousseff's Diplomatic Strategy: This chapter analyzes Dilma Rousseff's diplomatic strategy as revealed by her presidential trips during her first 19 months in office. The geographic distribution of her visits – emphasizing Latin America, the United States, Europe, and other emerging economies – reveals her focus on strengthening relationships globally, particularly with developing countries. The chapter connects this travel pattern to her stated goals of strengthening regional integration within Latin America through organizations like Mercosur and Unasul. This chapter serves as the culmination of the analysis, linking her domestic policies and personal background to her international approach.
Keywords
Dilma Rousseff, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazilian foreign policy, diplomatic strategy, environmental policy, social programs, economic development, Mercosur, Unasur, BRICS, Latin America, emerging economies, comparative politics.
Dilma Rousseff: A Political Biography - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main focus of this paper?
This paper analyzes Dilma Rousseff's first 19 months as President of Brazil, concentrating on her diplomatic strategy and foreign policy decisions. It compares her approach to that of her predecessor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and examines her overall impact on Brazil's international relations.
What are the key themes explored in this analysis?
Key themes include a comparison of Rousseff's and Lula da Silva's political visions, an analysis of Rousseff's domestic policies and their international implications, an examination of her diplomatic strategy, an evaluation of her environmental policies, and an assessment of her presidency's broader impact on Brazil's international standing.
What aspects of Dilma Rousseff's political biography are highlighted?
The paper details Rousseff's life and political career, emphasizing her activism against the military regime, her imprisonment and torture, and her rise through the PDT and PT parties. It contrasts her background and political style with Lula da Silva's, highlighting her image as a more technocratic leader.
How does the paper compare Dilma Rousseff and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva?
The paper compares their political visions, noting similarities in their goals (tackling poverty and inequality) but contrasting their approaches. Lula relied on instinct and personal connection, while Rousseff emphasized structured reforms and technological solutions. Their differing backgrounds (Lula from a poor family, Rousseff from an upper-middle-class one) are also considered.
What is the significance of Dilma Rousseff's environmental policies?
The paper focuses on the controversy surrounding amendments to the Forest Code, highlighting the tension between economic development and environmental protection. It contrasts her stance with Lula's, considering the international criticism received and the challenges of balancing economic growth with ecological sustainability.
What insights does the paper offer into Dilma Rousseff's diplomatic strategy?
The analysis examines Rousseff's diplomatic strategy through her presidential trips during her first 19 months. Her focus on strengthening relationships globally, particularly with developing countries, and her emphasis on regional integration within Latin America are discussed.
What are the key takeaways from the chapter summaries?
The chapter summaries provide detailed overviews of each section, offering a comprehensive understanding of the paper's content and its key arguments. They highlight the context of Rousseff's presidency, her background and leadership style, the comparison with Lula, the complexities of her environmental policies, and the analysis of her diplomatic strategy.
What keywords are associated with this analysis?
Keywords include Dilma Rousseff, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazilian foreign policy, diplomatic strategy, environmental policy, social programs, economic development, Mercosur, Unasur, BRICS, Latin America, emerging economies, and comparative politics.
What is the overall objective of this document?
To provide a comprehensive analysis of Dilma Rousseff's first 19 months as President of Brazil, focusing on her foreign policy and diplomatic strategies, and comparing her approach to that of her predecessor, Lula da Silva.
- Citation du texte
- Nora Görne (Auteur), 2012, Dilma Rousseff and the World: A Review of Her Diplomatic Strategy, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/204160
