O Barão do Rio Branco no Itamaraty (1902-1912)

Abstract

The hundredth anniversary of the end of Baron of Rio Branco's administration at the Brazilian Ministry of External Relations matches with a politically favorable moment for examining the legacy of the patron of the Brazilian Diplomacy, especially concerning the United States and the Río de la Plata, the two main axes of Brazilian foreign relations. It examines the content of the relations with the hemisphere's hegemonic power and the oscillating nature of the relations with Argentina. Using primary and bibliographic sources, the author aims to demonstrate that, in addition to accomplishing the process of delimiting the country's boundaries, Rio Branco established trends and procedures which were incorporated into the Brazilian Diplomatic Tradition. For this, the author analyzes the role the Rio de Janeiro-Washington alignment plays in the set of the chancellor's foreign policy and the pattern of relations with the Argentinean government - factors that have influenced Brazil's movements in its geographical surroundings. The foreign policy of prestige developed by Rio Branco derived from the aspiration to distinguish his country from the set of nations in the Southern Hemisphere, which are associated with political upheaval and financial insolvency.