Grand strategy and peace operations: The Brazilian case

Abstract

This article aims to contribute to the analysis of Brazilian grand strategy and the place of UN peace operations (POs) in the context of this strategy. It deals with the political economy of POs and grapples with the trends of POs in the recent past, especially the increasingly robust mandates of peace operations and their implications. Brazilian participation in peace operations is discussed, focusing on its main characteristics and the consequences of an absence of consensus on the role of POs for the country’s grand strategy. Finally, suggestions are proposed that might create synergies between participation in POs and Brazil’s grand strategy.