GEG WP 2010/58 Brazilian Congress and Foreign Affairs: Abdication or Delegation?

Full Title: Brazilian Congress and Foreign Affairs: Abdication or Delegation?

Author: Leany Lemos

Type: GEG Working Paper 2010/58

Abstract

Brazil is playing an increasingly important role globally and thus getting attention from a wide set of observers and practitioners – from academics and policy makers to businesses. Nevertheless, its foreign policy continues to be pursued and implemented in a much insulated fashion, almost entirely through the hands of the executive branch – the president and a set of ministries and agencies, where interests make themselves apparent -, without much participation of the Brazilian Congress. It is considered to be a remarkable case of abdication of power (Lima and Santos, 1998). But is it real abdication, or a case of delegation of powers? Here, I argue in favour of the latter case, siding with those that see Congress as more than pure spectator (Maia and Cesar, 2004; Neves, 2003; Diniz and Ribeiro, 2008; Diniz, 2009).

Author Bio

Leany Barreiro Lemos is currently the Chief of Staff of the Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) Caucus at the Brazilian Federal Senate. She has served in the senior staff of the Brazilian Federal Senate since 1993.