RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil’s growing leadership role in South America may put the South American nation at odds with the United States in some areas.
This week’s cover of Brazil’s leading newsmagazine, Veja,
says it all: it shows a picture of Uncle Sam (the traditional red, white and blue figure used to represent America) clothed in Brazil’s national colors of green, yellow, and blue. Underneath the picture is the headline: “Brazil Dresses as a Leader.”
Brazil’s formal emergence as a continental leader was underscored last week at the gathering of South American Presidents in the Brazilian capital. Convened by Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, it was
the first-ever summit to bring together the leaders of South America’s 12 nations.
David Fleischer, a University of Brasilia professor, says the summit is only latest manifestation of Brazil’s new leadership role.
“Brazil has increasingly over the past years enhanced its leadership position in the UN, in the World Trade Organization, and in other international organizations such as the Organizatoin of American States. So this is
part of a sequence of asserting and consolidating leadership of a country which is part of the top ten economies in the world,” said Fleischer.
As the largest nation in the continent, Brazil’s emergence should be no
surprise. Yet, it is only in recent years that the hemispheric giant has come into its own. For much of the 20th century, Brazil’s development was hampered by a series of economic crises, weak civilian governments, and
military dictatorships. Intractable social problems - such as the huge numbers of people living in poverty - also crippled Brazil.
A well-known joke reflected the popular perception of the country — ‘Brazil is the
country of the future, and always will be.’
But the South American nation has overcome many of these problems, though certainly not all. Its economy is now stable and growing, civilian democratic rule is an
established fact, and progress is being made in alleviating some social problems.
Brazil watcher Mauricio Font says much of the credit should go to President Cardoso.
Font, a professor at City College in New York
who was in Brasilia last week, says Cardoso has presided over the most successful civilian government since the military relinquished power in 1985.
“I think part of it, obviously, is the maturing of democracy and
the success of the Cardoso government to stabilize the process of democratization after three disastrous presidencies. You had a series of unfortunate events that led to very weak and very unimpressive political
leadership in this country for quite a few years...between '85 and '93 you had a lot of inconsistency in Brazil's ability to play a major role even in its own internal affairs, but I think after '93 you have a maturing
of democracy with a more solid sense of economic and political leadership, and it all has been associated with the figure of one person, Fernando Henrique Cardoso,” said Font.
Brazil's growing emergence on the world
stage appears to be welcome by Washington. The U.S. ambassador in Brazil, Anthony Harrington, praises this development and says the Brasilia summit was another example of Brazilian leadership.
“Brazil is fortunate to
have one of the best leaders on the world stage today in President Cardoso, and we benefit in our relationship between President Clinton and President Cardoso. This is an example of increased leadership beyond its
borders by the Brazilian government under President Cardoso's leadership,” said Harrington.
But there are issues where Brasilia and Washington are at odds. Colombia is a prime example. Brazil refuses to support
Washington’s military and narcotics aid package to the war-torn nation, and pointedly withheld any declaration of support in Brasilia for the Colombian government’s anti-drug strategy known as Plan Colombia.
Trade is another sticking point.
The United States has proposed forming a hemisphere-wide free trade zone, known as the Free Trade Area of the Americas by 2005. But Brazil wants to move more slowly. Brazil expert
David Fleischer says Brasilia first wants to expand the four-nation bloc known as “Mercosur”, which includes Brazil and Argentina, before creating the FTAA.
Traditionally, Brazil has preferred to pursue a pragmatic
and non-interventionist foreign policy. But by assuming a more prominent role in the affairs of the continent and the world, Brazil may be forced to take positions and speak out more openly than accustomed. This may
happen if, as expected, Brazil becomes a permanent member of the UN Security Council when that body is reformed and expanded to include other countries.
