The European Union and Brazil in the Quest for the Global Diffusion of Human Rights: Prospects for a Strategic Partnership
Publication Name:
Working Paper
Volume, number, page:
143
Year of Publication:
2014
Organization Name:
Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies
Publisher:
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
City:
Leuven
Country of Publication:
Belgium
Full Date:
August 2014
Considered Countries:
Brazil
Category:
Academic articles
Theme:
BILATERAL RELATIONS UE - LAC
Country - European Union
BIREGIONAL RELATIONS UE - LAC
Strategic Partnerships
Keyword(s):
European Union
Foreign Policy
Multilateralism
Human Rights
United Nations
Abstract:
The European Union’s identity as an international actor has been strongly associated with the promotion
of human rights at the global level. On this basis, the EU has played an active role in the strengthening of
international human rights regimes. Similarly, the advocacy of universal human rights is also a principle
and an objective of the Brazilian foreign policy. The role which Brazil plays in international regimes
increases its global relevance as an emerging power. Based on their shared interest in promoting
effective multilateralism, the EU and Brazil concluded a Strategic Partnership in 2007. Not surprisingly,
the promotion of human rights at the global level features as one of the objectives of this alliance. To this
end, the partners agreed to further coordinate their position and reinforce cooperation at the multilateral
level, including at the UN Human Rights Council. But have the EU and Brazil succeeded in their joint
promotion of human rights in the international arena? The paper discusses this question in four stages.
First, it analyses the EU’s conception of strategic partnerships as one of the instruments to facilitate the
promotion of ‘effective multilateralism’, and the partnership with Brazil in particular. In a second stage, we
explore the argument that an important precondition for the success of the partnership is the compatibility
of human rights approaches. The present paper thus compares the approaches of the EU and Brazil
regarding this issue area. The third part analyses the actual EU-Brazil engagement regarding human
rights. First, it looks at how the context of their Strategic Partnership has developed as a platform to
facilitate coordination regarding a multilateral human rights agenda. Confronting human rights discourse
in practice, the paper then assesses EU-Brazil engagement at the Human Rights Council. The paper
concludes that a strategic human rights partnership between the EU and Brazil has not (yet) emerged.
While such partnership holds important potential, significant mutual accommodation to the divergent
interests of both partners is needed in order for this cooperation to materialise in practice.
of human rights at the global level. On this basis, the EU has played an active role in the strengthening of
international human rights regimes. Similarly, the advocacy of universal human rights is also a principle
and an objective of the Brazilian foreign policy. The role which Brazil plays in international regimes
increases its global relevance as an emerging power. Based on their shared interest in promoting
effective multilateralism, the EU and Brazil concluded a Strategic Partnership in 2007. Not surprisingly,
the promotion of human rights at the global level features as one of the objectives of this alliance. To this
end, the partners agreed to further coordinate their position and reinforce cooperation at the multilateral
level, including at the UN Human Rights Council. But have the EU and Brazil succeeded in their joint
promotion of human rights in the international arena? The paper discusses this question in four stages.
First, it analyses the EU’s conception of strategic partnerships as one of the instruments to facilitate the
promotion of ‘effective multilateralism’, and the partnership with Brazil in particular. In a second stage, we
explore the argument that an important precondition for the success of the partnership is the compatibility
of human rights approaches. The present paper thus compares the approaches of the EU and Brazil
regarding this issue area. The third part analyses the actual EU-Brazil engagement regarding human
rights. First, it looks at how the context of their Strategic Partnership has developed as a platform to
facilitate coordination regarding a multilateral human rights agenda. Confronting human rights discourse
in practice, the paper then assesses EU-Brazil engagement at the Human Rights Council. The paper
concludes that a strategic human rights partnership between the EU and Brazil has not (yet) emerged.
While such partnership holds important potential, significant mutual accommodation to the divergent
interests of both partners is needed in order for this cooperation to materialise in practice.
