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Abstract
This paper develops three basic arguments. First, it presents the basic underpinnings of Brazilian diplomacy in the past half century, concentrating on the changes adopted in the 1980s and the 1990s up to the foreign policy put forward by Lula's government (2003–2009). It recognises that Lula's foreign policy represents a step forward, especially where Africa is concerned. However, it does not seem to be clear whether the Brazilian economy has enough strength to sustain such a foreign policy, as is shown in the second part of the paper. This is indeed the case if comparisons are made with India, China and even South Africa, when the latter's regional role is considered. Finally, an effort is made to summarise the recent political cooperation established between Brazil and African countries as well as to present an overview of Brazil's trade and investment relations both with the region as a whole and with some important individual partners. Once this picture is established, we investigate whether these realms—diplomatic/political and economic—take independent tracks, or if they do interact in a coherent manner.
Africa remained deep inside Brazil and Brazilians, not as something external to ourselves. But as a mythic space; neither geographical, nor historical.
Notes
Quotations translated by the authors.
Previous to these events, the only political fact worth mentioning during the twentieth century was the Brazilian trade mission to Senegal, Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Ivory Coast in 1965 (Vizentini, Citation2005). In fact, up until the end of the nineteenth century, Brazil had diplomatic relations with some African countries, but those were brought to an end during Europe's colonial conquest of the continent (Barboza, Citation2007).
In 1975, for example, Brazil was the first country to officially recognise Angola's independence, even ahead of other African countries. However, countries such as Mozambique could not help seeing this South American power as a traditional enemy, distrustful of what they perceived as a sudden change of attitude (Gaspari, Citation2004).
The very first mission, in November 2003 was perhaps the most emblematic one. President Lula visited five countries and signed a total of 31 cooperation agreements with them. By July 2004, the Ministry of External Relations confirmed that two-thirds of the agreements had not come into force (BBC Brasil, 25 July 2004).
There is not much information available, but considering the list of affiliates of the Associação de Empresários e Executivos Brasileiros em Angola (AEBRAN—Association of the Brazilian Entrepreneurs in Angola) it appears that many small to medium-size Brazilian enterprises are moving into that country. Data on other Brazilian business associations in Africa could not be found.
This is the case of Aquamec Equipamentos Ltda. Founded in 1994 it operates in the field of water treatment (potable and industrial). The company arrived in Angola this year to conduct a project in Luanda for which the responsible is a Brazilian multinational, Odebrecht. Aquamec was contracted to design the project, selecting appropriate technology, sending the equipment and installing it to treat the water of an industrial compound. The contract for this project was calculated at US$20 million. The company's vice-president believes that this may be an important move for the company, as many African countries lack water treatment services (Valor Econômico, 2 May 2008).