BRAZILIAN FOREIGN POLICY AND THE QUEST TO PROMOTE PORTUGUESE: BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH MACAU

Authors

  • JOÃO SIMÕES https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1437-5527
  • DANIEL VERAS https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4367-6807

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26619/1647-7251.DT0324.12

Keywords:

Brazil, China, Portuguese language, language policy and planning, cultural diplomacy, Macau

Abstract

This article explores Brazil’s role in the global promotion of the Portuguese language. Through the lens of Cooper’s framework on the international promotion of languages, the study investigates the intertwined political, economic and cultural motivations behind language promotion initiatives. It analyzes Brazil’s unilateral actions as well as engagement with the institutional framework of the Institute for the Promotion of Portuguese Language (IILP) within the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP). Drawing upon a review of scholarly works, official reports and policy documents, the paper shows that Brazil’s foreign policy has actively promoted the Portuguese language in certain geographies, but has yet to prioritize China, despite significant bilateral relations between China and Brazil. Furthermore, the article highlights the role of Macau as a valuable bridge between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries, which has been increasingly recognized by the People’s Republic of China. The conclusion underscores the need for Brazil to effectively leverage Macau’s strategic position to capitalize on these opportunities.

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Author Biographies

JOÃO SIMÕES, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1437-5527

Assistant Professor at City University of Macau (China). He holds a Ph.D. in Portuguese-speaking Countries Studies from the same university, a Master's degree in Chinese Studies from the University of Aveiro, Portugal, where he studied language policy and planning of the People's Republic of China, and a Bachelor's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Lisbon, Portugal. Prior to his current role, he taught at Xi'an International Studies University, China. His current research focuses on Lusophony and the interactions between Portuguese-speaking countries and China, as well as energy geopolitics.

DANIEL VERAS, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4367-6807

Professor of "China: Contacts, Culture, Identities, and Contrasts" in the Specialization/Graduate Studies in Contemporary China program at PUC Minas (Brazil). He is also the vice-coordinator of ALADAA Brasil (Asociación Latinoamericana de Estudios de Asia y África, Brazil chapter). Previously, he was a researcher at the Center for Sino-Brazilian Studies at Fundação Getulio Vargas, Brazil. He holds a Doctorate in Social Sciences, a Master's in Communication and Semiotics, and a B.A. in Social Sciences, all from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP). Daniel lived in China for ten years, where he studied Chinese at Nanjing University and worked in academic Sino-Brazilian cooperation involving the Confucius Institute of São Paulo, the Chinese Government (Han Ban), and São Paulo State University (Unesp). He taught Portuguese language, International Relations, and Brazilian culture at Hubei University in Wuhan. From 2015 to 2016, he worked as a researcher at the Santo Andre City Hall. From 2010 to 2018, he lectured in the annual video conference “Brazilian Society and Economics” for the Master's in Business Engineering program at Institut Supérieur d'Ingénierie d'Affaires (ISIALM) in Le Mans, France. Since 2016, he has been a guest professor of Sociology and Philosophy for students from the University of Alberta (Canada), Syracuse University, the University of Missouri, the University of Illinois, North Carolina State University, and Pine Manor College (USA) as part of the Summer Program, CUSSA, at Shanghai Normal University and Beijing University of Technology, China. His interests include globalization, migration, diasporas, intercultural communication, arts, identities, contrasts, and culture.

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Published

2024-12-17

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 2, TD1 (2024): Thematic dossier - Brazil-China relations: The rise of modern International Order

Section

ARTICLES