Brazil, Argentina and the BRICS: convergences and interests in comparative perspective

Abstract

Research and analyses on the BRICS often point to a possible lack of convergence between these countries' and Brazilian foreign policy's strategic interests that may affect the cohesion and coordination of the group on various international issues. Moreover, criticism of Brazil as an "emerging power" also points to the lack of articulation between Brazilian strategic interests and Argentina's, its most important regional partner. This work has as its main goal to discuss precisely those two issues, by comparing Brazilian strategic interests to those of the other BRICS countries and Argentina, identifying convergences and divergences on specific issues of the international agenda. In order to develop a comparative framework to analyze Brazil's strategic interests and Argentina's and the other BRICS countries' positions, the following subjects of the international agenda were identified: a) development model; b) relations with the United States; c) expansion of the UN Security Council; d) development and climate change; e) terrorism and human rights; f) nuclear research development; g) defense of multipolarity; h) WTO - trade liberalization and the Doha Round; i) global economic governance (G20); j) South-South cooperation; k) regional integration. The observed results demonstrate that despite structural differences between its members (GDP, military capacity, domestic variables), there is a convergence of interests and positions between the five BRICS countries concerning central themes of the Brazilian international agenda, which has also informed the official positions of the BRICS. In this context, Argentina, although not currently endowed with the necessary material capabilities to ensure a global presence, converges with the positions of the BRICS and with some of the Brazilian strategic interests in the international system. However, political differences can also be observed, as in the case of the proposed expansion of the UN Security Council.