Brazil and the Non-Aligned Movement: Parallel Paths, Common Goals

Abstract

: In the first post-war decades, in the second half of the 20 th century, when anti-colonialist consciousness and the construction of new states was advancing in Africa and Asia, seeking their own autonomous space in the bipolar world of the time, Latin America turned to the study of the problems of underdevelopment and sought ways to overcome them. This gap in interests and the hemispheric security doctrine imposed by the United States partly explains the initial lack of support from Latin American countries for the Non-Alignment proposal. Brazil was no exception, but it always maintained an active and proactive stance on economic issues, which led to a de facto rapprochement with the NAM postulates. Brazil’s boldest foreign policy stance was adopted in the 21 st century when progressive governments led by the Workers’ Party committed themselves to the BRICS strategy. That audacity explains much of what the country is experiencing at the moment due to the strong reaction that this initiative provoked in Washington and the domestic ruling classes.