BRAZILIAN FOREIGN POLICY UNDER “LULA 3”: THE REFORM OF GLOBAL GOVERNANCE AS AN EXTENSION OF DOMESTIC POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL (RE)ENGAGEMENT

Abstract

After two consecutive and mostly successful administrations in the 2000s, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva made a comeback and became Brazil’s President in 2023. Both the domestic and the international landscapes have considerably changed since he left power back then, and new challenges have arisen for his third term. However, one historical, long-term goal has been reframed again by the country as one of its most pressing matters: the reform of global governance. Hence, this paper seeks to understand the reasons behind the (re)prioritisation of the reform of global governance in Brazil’s foreign policy during the first year of “Lula 3”. Based on qualitative research, it deals with the foundations and recent developments of Brazilian foreign policy, particularly when it comes to Brazil’s relations with China and its considerations on the Global South, as well as the dynamics between Lula’s presidential diplomacy and the institutional role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also known as Itamaraty. Furthermore, it addresses debates involving Foreign Policy Analysis, Global Governance, and the interactions between domestic and international politics. This article concludes by identifying that Brazil has prioritised the reform of global governance as a way to align its international aspirations with its domestic needs.