ABSTRACT

This chapter gives a brief account of Brazil's position in the international arena during the 1990s and explores how alternative views matured in 2000s. The chapter examines Brazil's efforts to reposition itself in the international arena in search of an alternative world order. As part of recent attempts to reposition itself as a major player in the contemporary world system, Brazil has rediscovered one of its foreign policy traditions, the priority of the South-South relations. Politically, mutual support is also standard practice, in particular as regards the restructuring of the Security Council (UNSC). Amado Luiz Cervo describes this attitude as based on a Kantian vision of international relations that idealizes the good will of others and expects them to reward cooperative behaviour. Cardoso's emphasis was now on South American integration, as illustrated by the Brasília Meeting, which led to the creation of the Integration of South American Regional Infrastructure Initiative (IIRSA).