Brazil’s Strategic Diplomacy Failures and Foreign Policy Underachievement under Bolsonaro

Abstract

The article examines the extent of foreign policy continuity or change and level of foreign policy achievement or underachievement during the Bolsonaro presidency. These are analysed through the lens of ‘strategic diplomacy’, a concept that considers state capacity for agile long-term oriented diplomatic action. It evaluates three areas of foreign policy, including regional integration, OECD membership, and climate negotiations. The main finding was that Bolsonaro’s foreign policies, even if achieved, were often strategic diplomacy failures and damaged Brazil’s international reputation. The article’s contribution lies in applying a new concept to provide a fresh perspective on Brazilian foreign policy.