The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 24th October 2022 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Deciphering Samba Politics in Brazil

Why in News?

More attention should be given to the presidential elections taking place in Brazil on October 30. This is not just because Brazil, like India, is part of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), a political grouping that seeks to challenge unipolarity. Hence what happens to Brazil’s democracy is of concern to us.  

Historical Link

• The connection between India and Brazil is five-century old.
• The history dates back to the time when Portugal’s Pedro Alvares was on his way to India and was blown off course, only to discover Brazil in 1500.
• He made Brazil a stop-over to finally reach Goa. This led to the Portuguese association between India and Brazil and the exchange of varied agricultural crops and cattle in the colonial times.
• During the cold war, India and Brazil calibrated against the world order dictated by superpowers (US and USSR). For example in 1967, both the countries condemned the idea of creating Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Political Cooperation

• The strategic partnership established in 2006 between Brazil and India has deepened, with both countries cooperating closely within BRICS, IBSA, G4, G20, and the wider multilateral context of the United Nations.
• Brazil and India (along with Germany and Japan) jointly pursued aspirations of permanent seats in the UN Security Council and worked towards a multipolar world where large developing countries can frame global rules and democratise international institutions.
• Both countries played a pivotal role as leaders of the Global South or South-South cooperation.
• The Brazilian foreign policy of reciprocal multilateralism is in concurrence with India's policy of strategic autonomy.

Note:

• Reciprocal multilateralism: The rules of multilateral order should benefit all nations, and not being merely dictated by the superpowers for their benefit.
• Strategic autonomy: It denotes the ability of a state to pursue its national interests and adopt its preferred foreign policy without being constrained in any manner by other states.

Economic Cooperation

• Brazil has become one of the most important trading partners of India in the entire LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) region.
• However, bilateral trade between the two countries stands at a dismal $8 billion.
• In 2018 Indian investments in Brazil were around U.S.$ 6 billion and Brazilian investments in India are estimated at $ 1 billion.

Note:

• The main items of export from India to Brazil are diesel, organic chemicals and pharmaceutical products, man-made filaments, nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances, textile products (synthetic filaments/fibres, cotton, apparels, accessories etc.).
• Main items of Brazilian exports to India were Petroleum products, mainly crude oil, cane sugar, copper ore, soya oil and gold.

Defence Cooperation

• Brazil and India signed a bilateral ‘Defence Cooperation Agreement’ in 2003 that calls for cooperation in defence-related matters, especially in the field of Research and Development, acquisition and logistic support between the two countries.
• Under the framework of the agreement, a ‘Joint Defence Committee (JDC)’ has been set-up that meets at regular intervals.

Cultural Cooperation

• In Brazil, there is enormous interest in India’s culture, religion, performing arts and philosophy.
• Brazil has a strong community of Yoga and Ayurveda practitioners. The Brazilian Association of Ayurveda (ABRA) is a non-profit association with offices in 9 states of Brazil and has members all over Brazil.
• Mahatma Gandhi is highly regarded in Brazil and the government and NGOs are trying to inculcate the philosophy of non-violence among students, youth and police.

Challenges

• Relationship between India and Brazil has majorly remained stable. However, some minor issues have emerged lately.
• Brazil has filed a complaint at the World Trade Organisation against New Delhi’s subsidies to sugarcane farmers.
• Brazil is the largest producer and exporter of sugar and claims Indian subsidies are inconsistent with global trade rules.
• Brazil already counts China as its number one trade partner. India is facing difficulty to compete with deep pockets of China.
• Though BRICS as a group has tremendous potential to grow, it has also received criticism for not having a common vision.
• India and Brazil have developed divergence on climate change cooperation as India is committed to combating global warming while Brazil has rejected scientific studies on climate change.

Way forward

• India-Brazil relations have mostly been cordial and mutually understanding. In 2020, the Brazilian Ambassador agreed with the Indian government’s position that the 2019 Citizenship (Amendment) Act’s implementation and the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status were domestic matters for India.
• India would benefit highly from the successful ethanol substitution programs of Brazil to implement green energy and reduce pollution.
• India and Brazil share the stage at various global forums which is a sign of healthy and advantageous relations that can be used to address challenges of climate change, education, poverty, and so forth.
• The growing relations between India and Brazil share similar values regarding liberal strategies, global governance, and human rights which are crucial for the global balance of powers.

Conclusion

India and Brazil are the emerging nations that hold similar principles on democracy, human rights, global governance and liberal strategies.

They are partners on the basis of trade relations and have a lot to learn from each other. With their uniting stance on various multilateral and plurilateral forums, the two countries are considered to be important for the creation of new world order.