Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This article aims to analyse the international political and economic aspects that influence Brazilian positions regarding regional integration processes in South America, particularly the Mercosur. The dynamic of the international system and its impact on the evolution of the perception of the elites with respect to the role the country should play in the world are important variables for understanding these positions. The State’s postures in relation to integration were and are based on a real interest, but this interest is also linked with the objective of ensuring better conditions for participation in other international arenas. Taking as a starting point the hypothesis that transformations in the international setting have strongly influenced Brazil’s positioning, the elements of continuity and change in the country’s behaviour towards the Mercosur will be identified. The international financial and economic crisis that took hold from the second half of 2008 seems not to alter the trend towards a strengthening of the country’s role in the world.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This essay looks at the history of changing levels of power and interactions between indigenous populations in Brazil and the Brazilian nation state. The theoretical framework of this essay considers this change through international relations theories of constructivism (Price 1998: Wendt 1994: Wendt and Friedman 1995) as well as through Foucault’s (1977) conception of policy being considered differently within different temporal contexts. Foucault’s idea of changing conceptions and operations of policy is related to historical change of policy in Brazil though the creation and enforcement of norms on the societal level (see: Finnemore 1996: Finnemore and Sikkink 1998 for an overview of the conception of norms).

In light of the history of poorly enforced laws to protect indigenous populations in Brazil this essay turns toward Machiavelli’s assertion (1517) made in The Discourses that governments can use time to default on promises of change made to dissenting people and organizations. The unwillingness of local governments to enforce national and international norms is conceptually related back to Allina-Pisano’s (2004) analysis of land use in post-Soviet Ukraine which analyzes reasons why policy makers only pretend to follow national directives while simultaneously doing the opposite.

The main argument of this essay is that, despite some of the positive changes in the levels of power of indigenous populations, as reflected in partial legal victories in Brazil, the history of state society relations in Brazil has many examples which provide empirical evidence to demonstrate that the Brazilian nation state has potential to fall short of its legal promises. Subsequently, this essay concludes by recommending that indigenous people and concerned NGOs should focus more on gaining power at the local level, rather than the national level in Brazil.

Publication Type: Proceeding

Publication Type: Proceeding

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: The post-industrial dependence on experts and its related power imbalances has engendered social movement demands for participation. Given the reliance of environmental policy on science and expert knowledge, one such key group of movements and collaborations is those that attempt to democratize environmental research and slow the environmental degradation. This paper examines the social movement and resultant participatory methods that democratize environmental knowledge. I conceptualize the democratization of knowledge as the process through which local, lay perspectives become legitimate in science and/or expert knowledge to the point that they affect political decision-making. Theorists have pointed to movement contestation of research and technology as characteristic of new social movements, but have yet to empirically study this movement tactic. The environmental movement is the classic case to contest knowledge in order to improve policy. This paper examines the movement of dam-affected people in Brazil to understand its 1) strategies, ideologies and alliances, 2) resultant research collaborations between experts and lay people, and 3) the affects of these collaborations on policy. Based on interviews with movement actors, government officials, and scientific experts, I find that this movement has been effective in constructing new environmental research that serves as an alternative to that conducted by industry proposing potential dams. This paper is therefore an examination of the processes involved therein. Such projects play a pivotal role in the achievement of movement goals. The anti-dam movement in Brazil provides an empirical instance in which to explore how movements contest and consequently shape research.