Browsing by Author "Da Silva, Gabrielle"

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    Emerging middle powers in development cooperation: the case of Brazil In Mozambique
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03) Da Silva, Gabrielle; Van der Westhuizen, Janis; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Donor behaviour has been centred on traditional donors from the Global North. Emerging middle powers, however, do not conform to traditional development cooperation agendas. Moreover, emerging powers, tend to follow different structures, capacity, as well as forms and areas of development cooperation. From project scope, institutional arrangements and domestic support, there is less research on why emerging donors participate in development cooperation compared to traditional aid providers. Moreover, traditional IR theories do not properly consider why emerging middle powers transition from being net recipients of development aid to partners in development cooperation. Emerging middle powers are usually states who were beneficiaries of development aid but have gradually started acting as catalysts of development cooperation. These nations, although plagued with domestic issues (such as deep-rooted inequality and poverty) have opted to use funds to pursue foreign policy agendas. Outside of the domestic realm, these countries do not have much material capability. Brazil, for example, has used development cooperation (under the first Lula administration, 2003-2010) as a foreign policy tool to further the domestic, regional, and international agenda. This thesis used qualitative research methodology to unpack the reason behind Brazil’s participation in the international development cooperation agenda. The definition of emerging middle power provided by van der Westhuizen and Milani (2019) was used to provide context to the concept of Emerging middle power. Secondly, this thesis uses key analytical concepts, used in understanding the graduation dilemma by van der Westhuizen and Milani (2019). These key points are used to unpack the interplay between domestic, regional, and international actors and factors which influenced Brazil’s participation in development cooperation. Under the first Lula administration (2003-2010), development cooperation was an important foreign policy tool. Although the country faced domestic problems, development models were used to extend Brazil’s position both regionally as well as internationally. Domestically, international development cooperation was used to create economic opportunities and cement domestic public policy. Although not all development cooperation projects were supported by domestic and international civil society, these projects have been a catalyst for the Brazilian position both internationally and regionally.