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FLOUNDERING POWER ’S RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Adriana Erthal Abdenur May 15th, 2020

Every country on the planet is facing cy in responding to the coronavirus not only the unprecedented challeng- crisis. es of the novel coronavirus pandem- ic, but also the magnified conse- Not all is bleak. A govern- quences of policy decisions made by ment document released by the Min- its leaderships during the preceding istry of Economy lists a series of years. Brazil —a country of conti- measures adopted in light of the pan- nental proportions that, not long ago, demic (Ministério da Economia, was widely considered to be a rising 2020). Those measures include: a power on the global stage— is clear- constitutional amendment that allows ly floundering in its response to the detaching expenses incurred to com- spread of the virus. This results from bat Covid-19 from the federal gov- an accumulation of errors —some of ernment budget; a R$2 billion credit them dating back decades, but most line offered by the Brazilian National accelerated under the right-wing Development Bank (BNDES) to in- government of . Over crease emergency capacity; expan- the past year sixteen months, Brazil sion of the availability of medical has seen the relentless dismantling of equipment, ICU beds and telemedi- institutions (including the universal cine services; trade facilitation for health care system, called SUS) imported goods such as personal meant to protect the most vulnerable protective equipment (PPE); and populations and the environment; temporary social benefits to informal repeated and frontal attacks on de- workers and unemployed members mocracy; and the pursuit of a bewil- of low-income families. Read out of deringly directionless foreign policy context, the list reads like a “best that disdains international coopera- practices” roster of emergency re- tion, human rights, and climate ac- sponses. Indeed, many of them have tion. All of these mistakes set the been designed by well-intentioned stage for a bumbling, incoherent, and and competent technical teams. —ultimately— deadly lack of effica- However, standing in the way of the ultimate impact of these measures is

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a bewildering array of political fire- sode in the political minefield into storms, most of them fed by the pres- which the coronavirus erupted. Since ident himself. the first case of Covid-19 was con- firmed in Brazilian territory, on Feb- On the domestic front, Brazil has ruary 26, the virus has contaminated attained the dubious distinction of over 62,000 people and killed 7,367 becoming one the handful of coun- people in Brazil (according to offi- tries in the world whose health min- cial figures from May 5th, Google, isters were fired precisely as the 2020). This makes Brazil the sixth spread of the virus began spiraling country with the highest number of out of control —for the express rea- total deaths attributed to Covid-19 son that he was doing his job. Ousted (Financial Times, 2020). Yet these Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta, statistics fail to convey the true ex- who had defended isolation measures tent of the crisis. Brazil’s unusually before being fired on April 16, of- low rate of testing —the lowest fered a reasonably technical leader- among the ten countries with the ship for the country’s public health highest number of cases— suggests response (Lopes, 2020). Just two that the total cases in the country months into the crisis, he was re- may be as much as ten times higher. placed by Bolsonaro with a lacklus- Some of the emerging evidence for ter successor, oncologist Nelson this gap comes from health statistics: Teich, who —upon taking office as in many parts of the country, the Health Minister— called for a “peo- number of deaths due to mystery ple-focused” approach yet quickly respiratory problems is skyrocketing showed to be aligned with extreme- due to delays in diagnosis and false- right president Jair Bolsonaro’s negative tests (Saraiva, 2020). The views on the pandemic: an insistence trend is corroborated by gravediggers that Covid-19 is nothing more than in the Amazon city of Manaus, the another “little flu”, and the belief that first state capital to succumb to a isolation policies are economic sui- collapse of the public health system; cide. Far from an outlier, the swift the cemetery workers report a sharp replacement of the minister mid- increase in burials (some of which pandemic is emblematic of a gov- are now being carried out in collec- ernment whose empathy-challenged tive graves) far beyond the statistics president, when asked to comment provided by government authorities. on the fact that Brazil had surpassed China in number of Covid-19 deaths, This chaotic scenario, and the grow- shot back: “So what?”. ing knowledge that there is far more going on under the surface than the Indeed, the country’s changing med- official statistics reveal, begs the ical leadership is only the latest epi- question of whether there is a “Bra-

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zilian approach” to the epidemic. In officials with which Bolsonaro has fact, there are multiple Brazilian ap- populated top posts in his govern- proaches being promoted by authori- ment, including the vice-presidency, ties —either at different levels of are reluctant to contradict him direct- government or even within the same ly, but the Armed Forces have quiet- echelons— and they often clash, con- ly adopted ) (Exa- fusing citizens or allowing them to me, 2020). The president’s support cherry-pick which political leader to base has shrunk considerably since follow in their public health recom- the dramatic exit of Justice Minister mendations. Sergio Moro, an ex-judge who left his post leading the “Car Wash” anti- First, there has been a gap between corruption investigation to join the what the president says and the mes- far-right government (Zafalon, sages coming out of the health minis- 2020). Moro resigned abruptly, ac- try. While Mandetta was minister, he cusing the president of misdeeds promoted self-isolation even as Bol- during a carefully orchestrated press sonaro continued to dismiss the grav- conference; among his allegations ity of the virus —sometimes during are the claim that the president at- the same press conference. It quickly tempted to politically interfere with became clear that their messages the Federal Police, and of prioritizing appeal to different groups. Mandetta personal interests over institutional was shown to enjoy not only the ones. backing of the scientific community, but also widespread popu- As a result, Brazilians have found lar support for his technocratic ap- themselves whiplashed by a series of proach to the pandemic (in fact, this political explosions, even as the virus popularity has been cited as a key rages across much of the country. reason behind his firing) (Ceriono, Instead of harnessing his considera- 2020). Survey data indicates that ble powers as president of a highly most Brazilians (76%) agree with the centralized republic to flatten the need for isolation policies and would Covid-19 curve, the president adds support the imposition of penalties fuel to the fire on the political front, for breaching quarantine (a measure actively supporting and even taking that has not yet been applied) part in protests that mingle demands (Congresso em Foco, 2020). for lifting social distancing policies with open calls for military interven- Bolsonaro’s anti-isolation messages, tion and closing down Congress and on the other hand, have appealed to the Supreme Court. In a number of groups that were essential to his elec- major cities, Bolsonaro’s supporters tion: businesspeople and key evan- have organized right-wing motor- gelical leaders (the senior military cades. The frenzied protesters, some

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wrapped in the national flag or wear- end up causing catastrophic harm, ing the national football jersey, drive even more than the pandemic itself. their cars, trucks and motorcycles In posing a stark false dichotomy through central streets, honking their between economic growth and public horns (sometimes, outside hospitals health —a simplistic view widely treating Covid-19 patients). rebutted by both health specialists and economists— Bolsonaro whips Although the number of people tak- up support not only among business- ing part in these protests is small, people, but also among many of they tend to attract attention in the those who are losing their jobs. On a media due to displays of radicalism, number of occasions, Bolsonaro has including, occasionally, acts of vio- called for “vertical isolation” (UOL, lence (Veja, 2020). Their visibility is 2020), despite growing evidence that also bolstered in social media by the such a strategy would lead to rapid vast “army of hate” —the tens of contagion and overwhelmed public thousands of profiles (some of them health systems. At other times, he bots) that carry out orchestrated vi- has —much like Donald Trump— cious attacks against those who de- promoted the unerring belief in the tract from the president’s extreme- efficacy of hydroxychloroquine as a right views. Moro followed up on his silver bullet for treating Covid-19. resignation by giving a deposi- Across these positions, Bolsonaro tion against Bolsonaro at the Federal has eschewed scientific evidence and Police, on May 2nd (BBC, 2020). disdained expertise, clinging to the Since then, his supporters have ap- hopes of an easy fix that will cast peared among groups targeted by him as the savior of the economy protesters, potentially signaling a (and thus boost his chances of reelec- schism between the hard- tion). liners bolsonaristas and the lavajatis- tas, as Moro’s supporters are often The mixed messages being issued by called. As in so many moments dur- Brazilian authorities are not restrict- ing this presidency, Brazilians find ed to the federal government. Bolso- themselves waiting with baited naro continues to face defiance and breath to see if the top brass will open opposition from several gover- speak out decisively so as to curb the nors and mayors, some of whom had president’s increasingly frantic au- bandwagoned with him during the thoritarianism (it won’t). campaign and even after he assumed the presidency. The governors of the In attacking social distancing two states with the highest numbers measures, Bolsonaro wavers between of cases and deaths so far —João different arguments. At times, he Doria, the governor of São Paulo argues that isolation measures will state, and Winston Witzel, of Rio de

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Janeiro state— implemented social bling to expand the number of Inten- distancing policies, including school sive Care Unit (ICU) beds available. system closures, and imposed rela- Rio de Janeiro, which has the sec- tively stringent restrictions on non- ond-highest absolute number of essential workers and businesses. Covid-19 cases in the country after Bolsonaro has repeatedly attacked São Paulo, opened its first field hos- these and other governors (such as pital in late April just as its public those of the Federal District and Goi- health system became saturated. In ás) for their pro-isolation stances. He Manaus, the capital of the Amazonas has threatened to reverse their poli- state, the already strained health care cies and reopen businesses with a system has already collapsed, as has “flick of the pen” (canetada), alt- the funerary system (Correio hough his ability to do so has been Braziliense, 2020). The remainder of called into question by legal experts the entire state of Amazonas —the and political scientists (Shalders, largest by territory in the Union— 2020). has no ICU beds at all. In a sad rerun of scenes that have played out in At the same time, some governors Europe and New York, in Rio de have circumvented the federal gov- Janeiro and Belém (the capital of ernment by directly importing venti- Pará), bodies have been lators and PPE; the Northeastern shown stacked in mortuary chambers state of Maranhão, for example, and even hospital hallways as funeral managed to purchase 107 ventilators parlors, cemeteries and crematoria and 200 thousand medical masks become overloaded (Lemos, 2020). by routing the material via Ethiopia and submitting it to customs only The muddled messages sent by gov- once the shipment arrived in Mara- ernment authorities have had a con- nhão, as opposed to the port of entry crete impact on the behavior of the (Correio, 2020). That a state gov- population. Statistics indicate a re- ernment should import humanitarian laxation in the adherence to isolation material hidden from the federal policies in April and May, with a government attests confirms that the larger number of people in the streets presidency has become, more often of major and medium cities — than not, a hurdle rather than a helper including those most affected by the in combating the coronavirus. pandemic. In São Paulo state, for instance, whose government has es- This confusing panorama means that tablished 70% isolation among citi- responses to the pandemic vary zens as the ideal threshold in order to widely across the country. Some ma- “flatten the curve”, the rate dipped to jor cities have adopted stricter self- 58% during a sunny weekend in late isolation measures and are scram- April (Santiago, 2020).

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City and state leaders bent on im- unable to save any money or buy plementing social isolation have also food stocks. According to the Brazil- faced considerable challenges stem- ian Institute of Geography and Statis- ming from the country’s widespread tics (IBGE), Brazil’s most deprived poverty and inequality, and from the families spend two-thirds of their limited reach of emergency measures income on basic necessities: food, —some of which are marked by bu- housing, and clothing. The economic reaucratic hurdles. Brazil, it bears precariousness of this low-income repeating, is one of the world’s most population —staggering even before unequal countries. The country’s six the novel coronavirus reached Bra- richest men possess the zil— has been magnified by the pan- same wealth as the poorest 50% of demic. The results are only begin- the population —some 100 million ning to emerge. According to one people (Oxfam, 2019). Brazil’s rich- study, approximately 91 million Bra- est 5% have the same income as the zilians (around 58% of the country’s remaining 95%. Socioeconomic ine- adult population) defaulted on their qualities also have deep racial, gen- bills in April (Ribeiro, 2020). The der, ethnic, and regional cleavages, pandemic may yet push more mil- and widespread crime and violations lions below the poverty line and into by state forces generate abnormally the hunger zone. high homicide rates compared to states of equivalent development Although not all low-income Brazili- levels. Brazil’s social abysses mean ans live in urban communities, these that confronting the pandemic entails areas pose the twin challenges of considerable challenges related to dense population (which makes so- access to resources, institutions and cial distancing all but impossible in services. some places) and economic precari- ousness. Favelas and other informal Social distancing has proven espe- settlements historically have lacked cially difficult to implement in significant state presence except for the favelas, the densely packed urban repressive police force incursions. communities that often lack adequate Public health services are hard to infrastructure, including basic sanita- come by, and public education is tion, and whose residents are dispro- severely deficient. In the absence of portionately employed in the infor- adequate state responses local net- mal sector (and increasingly, unem- works of citizens have attempted to ployed). For large numbers of low- fill in the shoes of the state, for ex- income Brazilians, economic surviv- ample by distributing food packets al was a short term concern even and hygiene products with donations before the pandemic. Many millions from businesses and individuals. earned so little that they have been There have also been commendable

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innovations. In Paraisopólis, a large facing new threats. Given Brazil’s favela in Sao Paulo, the local resi- long and tragic history of genocide dents’ association organized to hire against its indigenous populations, doctors, emergency workers and am- the advance of the pandemic among bulances to treat those within the the country’s indigenous villages — community suspected of having con- including several confirmed deaths— tracted Covid-19 (Paiva Paulo, have prompted new prevention ef- 2020). In Rio de Janeiro, the newly forts by networks of indigenous founded Marielle Franco Institute — communities (Quadros and Anjos, a private foundation launched in 2020). The Articulação dos Povos 2019 in honor and memory of the Indígenas do Brasil (APIB), despite late city councilor and activist assas- facing scarce resources, little gov- sinated in March 2018 by Rio mili- ernment support, and rapidly increas- tia— has created an interactive ing food insecurity, has tried to mo- online map to track local initiatives bilize different groups to monitor to protect the favelas from the pan- symptoms, identify cases, and facili- demic1. Despite being the tremen- tate access to health care for affected dous organizing power and solidarity citizens. Yet they, too, face the con- such initiatives reflect, they also cast siderable constraints generated light on the state’s failure in (and through budget cuts and political political unwillingness to) reach the persecution of civil society entities most vulnerable populations —a since Bolsonaro took office. failure that has only been augmented by Bolsonaro’s anti-poor, anti-human Other populations in Brazil particu- rights policies. larly susceptible to the pandemic are migrants, including refugees. Around Concern is also growing for other 264.000 Venezuelans have cro- vulnerable groups in Brazil. Indige- ssed the border into Brazil and re- nous peoples have already suffered main in the country (Cruz, 2020), violence and loss of livelihood re- and in 2018 the government set up sulting from the dismantling of insti- military-led Operação Acolhida, with tutions promoted by the Bolsonaro the support of the UN High Commis- government. Communities in the sioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Amazon, who had already been un- other international organizations and der attack from massive invasions of non-governmental organizations, to illegal miners, land grabbers, and improve logistics. The operation also others who have been encouraged by coordinates the process of voluntary the president’s discourse to invade relocation of migrants from the state protected lands in the region, are of Roraima, which borders Venezue- la, to other parts of Brazil. Invoking

1 https://www.institutomariellefranco.org/. the pandemic, Brazil closed its bor-

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der with Venezuela, although there relief will fail to reach certain cate- have been reports that some refuge gories of autonomous workers, in- seekers are crossing back into Vene- cluding those in transportation, as zuela due to the precarious situation well as the homeless and other cate- in Brazil —especially in Roraima, gories. In addition, the program’s where thousands of migrants still live three-month duration has been criti- in temporary shelters and in the cized as being inadequate given the streets of Pacaraima and Boa Vista. scope of the economic and health As of late April, there were 10 con- crisis. firmed cases of Covid-19 among the refugees, and Operação Acolhida, the Although Brazil is considered to be UN agencies, local government, and an agricultural powerhouse, largely NGOs began working to expand mi- due to export-oriented monoculture grant shelters. There is nonetheless —the sector accounted for 25% of growing concern about the potential the GDP during the past twenty impact of the pandemic among this years— the government’s patchwork population and its host communities. approach to the pandemic, rife with mixed messages, may contribute Brazil’s embattled civil society has towards food insecurity. In addition worked to boost protection of these to the challenge of feeding low- vulnerable populations, while also income populations who have no working to shape pandemic respons- money with which to purchase food, es at the national level. After Bolso- there may be challenges ahead in naro announced measures to support terms of distribution. Because Brazil businesses, a coalition of 35 civil lacks an adequate railway system, society groups and activists success- food distribution depends heavily on fully pressed the government for an the class of politically powerful (but, emergency universal income pro- from a public health perspective, gram2. The funds, however, have not highly exposed) truck drivers. The been implemented in an agile man- Public Ministry has also sound- ner; they only began to be disbursed ed alarm bells that the government is in mid-April, and many people are allocating insufficient funds to the finding their access blocked due to Food Acquisition Program, which the excess of red tape. While the purchases food from family farmers program accounts for female heads and encourages diversification (Dia- of household working in the informal rioAM, 2020). As a result, some ex- economy by providing double that perts have begun ringing alarm bells amount, policy specialists have ex- about the ability of low-income pop- pressed concern that the emergency ulations to access adequate food, and there are already reports of residents

2 https://www.rendabasica.org.br/. in the favelas of São Paulo —he

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country’s richest state in GDP per 90s, its foreign policy elites placed a capita— going hungry (Canzian, heavy emphasis on multilateralism, 2020). universalism, and autonomy. Multi- lateralism was viewed as a way to Even as the spread of the virus accel- amplify Brazil’s reach abroad, as erates, the Bolsonaro government well as the most effective, pacific continues to take measures that erode and just channel through which to Brazilian institutions, including those influence international affairs. When related to basic research. As in public Brazilian political elites encountered health and environmental protection, what they considered to be a flaw or Bolsonaro has worked to weaken inadequacy in the global governance public education systems, especially system, the strategy was to try to at the higher level, and to cut re- mend or strengthen it —not under- search funding. In mid-April, Bolso- mine the system altogether. naro fired the head of the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Through universalism, on the other Technological Development (CNPq), hand, Brazil built and maintained which was subjected to repeated dialogue channels with all possible budget cuts even before the pande- partner states, even when there were mic (Saldaña, 2020). The govern- vast differences in interests, values, ment’s disdain for research and edu- and aspirations. Universalism never cation has even affected the work of meant homogeneity across foreign researchers working on Covid-10, relations; Brazil always has, to some whose projects lost funding. Such extent, played favorites, namely moves reflect the deep distrust of through the establishment of strategic knowledge and research that is not partnerships, such as those with Ar- only the hallmark of the president gentina, the United States, Japan, and his supporters, but indeed their China, India, South Africa, and the object of pride —even when faced European Union. But adherence to with its fatal consequences. universalism meant that Brazil could mobilize a wide array of support in On the foreign policy front, Bolso- multilateral fora, and that it could naro offers a sui generis mix of sub- more easily diversify bilateral rela- servience and squabbles. Here we tions when the need arose. find some breaks with Brazil’s past. While its foreign policy has waxed Combined, these elements (multilat- and waned over the years, there has eralism and universalism) allowed been remarkable continuity in some Brazil to punch at its weight on the of the core principles of Brazil’s dip- world scene, and sometimes even lomatic tradition. After Brazil’s re- above it. The mix also allowed Brazil turn to democracy in the 1980s and to pursue a degree of autonomy, that

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is, the political space needed to make and sovereignty discourse, rejected its own decisions regarding its path the proposal as an unwise adventure. to development and its role on the Ultimately, Bolsonaro’s Chief of global stage. Staff shot down the idea publicly (Brígido, 2020). Not anymore. Under Bolsonaro, Bra- zil has mimicked Trump’s impulsive The contrast with Brazil as an inter- disdain for the United Nations (but national actor ten years ago could not without the accompanying leverage) be starker. From the (sometimes- and has attacked the very notion of overblown) “rising power” bravado multilateralism —even as his gov- of the Lula years, when Brazil open- ernment maintains the aspiration of ly aspired to a permanent seat at the joining the Organization for Eco- UN Security Council and wielded its nomic Development and Cooperation South-South cooperation ties to deep (OECD). The ideal of universalism ties to countries around the Global was thrown out the window as Brazil South, Brazil has hitched its wagon began rooting for practices it has to the lopsided trio pushing for a historically rejected on principle, global conservative agenda: the such as the imposition of sanctions United States, Poland and Hungary. that were not approved by the United The country’s otherwise highly pro- Nations (Bolsonaro has threatened to fessional and capable diplomatic impose sanctions on Venezuela, fol- corps, who helped lead the expansion lowing the example of the United of Brazil’s embassy network to near- States). Early in the presidency, Bol- ly every country on Earth, has been sonaro’s foreign minister, Ernesto relegated to humdrum bureaucratic Araújo, sided with American foreign tasks or, at most, near-hidden at- policy “hawks” who defended using tempts to provide some continuity in the Brazilian Amazon as a corridor areas that have not been shrunk into for American troops to invade Vene- oblivion. zuela. This type of blind follow-the- leader stance has not been seen in It is not surprising, then, that —faced Brazil since the military dictatorship with a pandemic of historic propor- years, and it represents a direct con- tions— Brazil’s foreign policy has tradiction of the principle (enshrined not been of much help at a time when within the Brazilian Constitution3) of countries compete for scarce essen- peaceful resolution of conflicts. Even tial supplies, such as masks and res- the Armed Forces, who have invig- pirators. Far from it. After picking orated on their nationalist rhetoric fights and hurling insults at heads of state of major partners, such as France’s Emmanuel Macron, Ger- 3 http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/ constituicao/constituicao.htm. many’s Angela Merkel and Argenti-

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na’s Alberto Fernández, Bolsonaro virus”. In response, the Chinese am- has placed almost all of Brazil’s po- bassador to Brazil has issued a series litical eggs in one basket, groveling of strongly worded messages, in an to his would-be kindred spirit, Don- almost unheard-of display of disap- ald Trump. But the relationship —by proval regarding Brazilian politics definition, highly asymmetrical— (Embaixada da China no Brasil, has failed to deliver the promised 2020). results (namely, a resounding en- dorsement by the US government for Although the economic aspect of the Brazil’s entry into the OECD) even bilateral relations continues —for all before the pandemic. By slamming purposes, Agriculture Minister Tere- the door in the face of established sa Cristina lead the economic dimen- partners and neighboring states, Bol- sion of those ties— some private sonaro’s foreign policy has preempt- sector actors and government author- ed cooperation paths that could al- ities fear that the offending com- ready have been put in place had ments may lead China to fur- some degree of universalism been ther react by exacting concessions in maintained, even in these cutthroat trade, or by diverting commerce to days. Rather than spend the political other sources of soybeans and other capital accumulated on the global commodities (Jiménez, 2020). The stage when the country needs it most; offenses take place precisely when Bolsonaro has poured Brazil’s soft China —one of the world’s main power down the drain. sources of masks, gloves, ventilators and other medical equipment being Another case in point: China, which used in the pandemic— having over- is not only Brazil’s top trade partner, come its first wave of coronavirus, but also a fellow member of the embarks on a broad “mask diploma- once-promising BRICS (Brasil, Rus- cy” offensive, offering Covid-19 sia, India, China and South Africa) assistance (primarily surgical masks, grouping. Political relations with N95 respirators, protective suits, nu- Beijing were painstakingly mended cleic acid test kits, and ventilators) to by advisors and ministers after a se- 120 countries around the world (Mu- ries of destructive comments by Bol- lakala, 2020). sonaro nearly detailed those ties. Political relations have been shaken The missed opportunities —not only yet again during the pandemic —this to receive assistance at a time of time, by Bolsonaro’s third son, depu- growing need, but also to contribute ty Eduardo Bolsonaro, who has (un- with the country’s accumulated expe- surprisingly, following in the foot- rience in public health— are particu- steps of his American idols) needled larly glaring in Latin America and Beijing with the phrase “the Chinese the Caribbean. Brazil was once a

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leader in public health cooperation in the Pan American Health Organi- across the Global South, through an zation (PAHO), which is part of the extensive South-South cooperation WHO system (and which has program (coordinated by the Brazili- been hit by the recent US funding an Cooperation Agency of the For- freeze to the WHO announced by eign Ministry) that covered not only Trump on April 14 (Mckenzie, bilateral projects, but also regional 2020). Until Bolsonaro helped to engagements and initiatives with torpedo the Union of South Ameri- multilateral organizations such as the can States (UNASUR), which was Organization of Portuguese- widely associated with his left- Language Countries, CPLP. In great leaning predecessors, Brazil also part through these efforts, Brazil de- provided the main momentum for the veloped a tradition of “health diplo- South American Institute in Health macy“ that draws on historic ties to Governance (ISAGS), which drove public health institutes around the Unasur’s highly progressive and hu- world (Marchiori, 2018), as well as man rights-based Strategic Five-year on the idea of health as a human Health Plan. rights —and which, over time, be- came a central component of Brazil’s These institutional roles and coopera- technical cooperation programs tion ties, built up painstakingly over abroad. By 2017, when the program decades, have been frayed by Bolso- all but ground to a halt, Brazil had naro’s foreign policy, as well as by more than 350 completed and ongo- the dismantling of domestic institu- ing health projects covering a wide tions in charge of public health, such variety of objectives, countries, and as Fiocruz. Other regional organiza- participating institutions. Coopera- tions have not provided much respite tion projects garnering praise in Bra- from the pandemic despite some col- zil and abroad included the Human laborative efforts. While Mercosur, Milk Bank Program, which helped the Organization of American States reduce mortality in the first year of (OAS) and the newly-minted and life in Latin America and the Carib- conservative-bending Prosul have bean, Europe, and Africa. Such initi- announced joint efforts, these initia- atives lost momentum when Bolso- tives pale in comparison to the coop- naro’s foreign policy —even more eration ties that could have been ac- than that of his predecessor, Michel tivated had Brazil maintained its Temer— cast aside South-South co- once-robust technical cooperation operation, and many of those projects program and its political role within have since been suspended. the region. Instead, Brazil continues to scramble to implement ad hoc Within Latin America and the Carib- measures, including (ironically) hir- bean, Brazil became highly proactive ing more than a thousand Cuban doc-

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tors a year after Bolsonaro belittled lations, including refugees on the the “More Doctors” (Mais Médicos) border with Venezuela. program that brought them to Brazil in the first place —a program found- No government on the planet has ed by President to proven fully ready to tackle the im- provide doctors in the interior com- mense challenge of Covid-19, but munities of Brazil. most have been willing to take on the challenge. That Brazil happens to Bolsonaro has not bothered to hide have such an inward-looking, mixed- his disdain for the United Nations, of message-giving, ignorance- which Brazil is a founding member. promoting, Trump-idolizing, UN- He has declared, for example, that bashing, human-rights disdaining “UN decisions don’t matter for us” government in place as the pandemic and vetoed the inclusion of the Sus- strikes helps to explain the spiraling tainable Development Goals (SDGs) catastrophe unfolding in the country. in the country’s multi-year plan It is now up to a motley crew of (Gullino, 2020). Araújo has gone stakeholders to boost emergency further, referring to the United Na- measures and launch an evidence- tions as a conspiracy drawing on based discussion of recovery efforts. “Marxist” and “globalist” ideologies. Technical ranks within government; As the pandemic worsens, Araújo Brazilian subnational governments, (like his boss) has doubled down on civil society entities; private sector the bunker mentality, saying that the actors; and cautious yet persistent World Health Organization (WHO) foreign partners —all of these will be is an instrument to propagate a com- needed to mitigate the damage un- munist plan, which he has dubbed derway and to work towards a more the “comunavirus” (Putti, 2020). just, democratic, dignified, and Brazil’s zealous alignment with the healthier Brazil in the post-pandemic positions of the Trump government world. also prompted it to decline to support a UN resolution on access to medica- Adriana Erthal Abdenurl. Brazilian tions and treatments (Chade, 2020), expert in public policy and interna- despite Brazil’s long history of de- tional relations. fending these causes abroad —not only at UN headquarters, but also via the TRIPS agreement. Under attack from Brasilia, the United Nations agencies, funds and programs have maintained a low profile in the coun- try but continue to provide valuable support to the most vulnerable popu-

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Bibliographical references solução da ONU contra ví- rus”, UOL (21/04/2020): BBC (2020): “O depoimento de Mo- https://noticias.uol.com.br/col ro na PF contra Bolsonaro em unas/jamil- meio a protestos polarizados chade/2020/04/21/refem-de- e expectativa” (3/05/2020): trump-brasil-rompe-sua- https://www.bbc.com/portugu tradicao-diplomatica-durante- ese/brasil-52516789. a-pandemia.htm.

BRIGIDO, C. (2020): “Onyx descarta CONGRESSO EM FOCO (2020): “Data- participação do Brasil em folha: 76% dos brasileiros eventual invasão à Venezue- apoiam isolamento social la”, O Globo (2/05/20202): contra o coronavírus” https://oglobo.globo.com/mu (6/04/2020): ndo/onyx-descarta- https://congressoemfoco.uol.c participacao-do-brasil-em- om.br/saude/datafolha-76- eventual-invasao-venezuela- dos-brasileiros-apoiam- 23635868. isolamento-social-contra-o- coronavirus/. CANZIAN, F. (2020): “Nas favelas, moradores passam fome e CORREIO (2020): “Maranhão dribla começam a sair às ruas”, Fo- EUA, Europa e governo Bol- lha de S. Paulo (28/03/2020): sonaro para comprar 107 res- https://www1.folha.uol.com.b piradores” (14/04/2020): r/cotidiano/2020/03/nas- https://www.correio24horas.c favelas-moradores-passam- om.br/noticia/nid/maranhao- fome-e-comecam-a-sair-as- dribla-eua-europa-e-governo- ruas.shtml. bolsonaro-para-comprar-107- respiradores/. CERIONI, C. (2020): “Mandetta é ministro mais popular do go- CORREIO BRAZILIENSE (2020): “Sai- verno; 76% rejeitam sua de- ba por que Manaus entrou em missão”, Exame rápido colapso com os casos (16/04/2020): de Covid-19” (23/04/2020): https://exame.abril.com.br/br https://www.correiobraziliens asil/mandetta-e-ministro- e.com.br/app/noticia/brasil/20 mais-popular-do-governo-76- 20/04/23/interna- rejeitam-sua-demissao/. brasil,847395/saiba-por-que- manaus-entrou-em-rapido- CHADE, J. (2020): “Pressionado por colapso-com-os-casos-de- Trump, Brasil evita apoiar re- covid-19.shtml.

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CRUZ, I. (2020): “Como refugiados GOOGLE (2020): “Brasil casos”: ficam vulneráveis na pande- https://www.google.com/sear mia do coronavírus”, Nexo ch?q=brasil+casos&rlz=1C5 (8/04/20202): CHFA_enBR786BR786&oq https://www.nexojornal.com. =brasil+casos+&aqs=chrome. br/expresso/2020/04/07/Com .69i57j0.2407j0j7&sourceid= o-refugiados-ficam- chrome&ie=UTF-8. vulner%C3%A1veis-na- pandemia-do- GULLINO, D. (2019): “Bolsonaro diz coronav%C3%ADrus. que ONU está ‘aparelhada’ e não teme perda de voto por DIARIOAM (2020): “MPF: recursos à falta de pagamento”, O Globo segurança alimentar são insu- (10/12/2019): ficientes” (4/05/2020): https://oglobo.globo.com/mu https://d24am.com/claro- ndo/bolsonaro-diz-que-onu- escuro/mpf-recursos-a- esta-aparelhada-nao-teme- seguranca-alimentar-sao- perda-de-voto-por-falta-de- insuficientes/. pagamento-24128875.

EMBAIXADA DA CHINA NO BRASIL JIMÉNEZ, C. (2020): “Provocações à (2020): “Nota da Embaixada China geram apreensão em da China no Brasil” plena pandemia e podem co- (20/03/2020): http://br.china- brar ‘desconto’ em exporta- embas- ções do Brasil”, El País sy.org/por/sghds/t1758489.ht (9/04/2020): m. https://brasil.elpais.com/brasil /2020-04-09/provocacoes-a- EXAME (2020): “Documento do china-geram-apreensao-em- exército defende isolamento plena-pandemia-e-podem- social no combate ao corona- cobrar-desconto-em- vírus” (6/04/2020): exportacoes-do-brasil.html. https://exame.abril.com.br/br asil/documento-do-exercito- LEMOS, M. (2020): “Coronavírus: defende-isolamento-social- Necrotério de hospital no Rio no-combate-ao-coronavirus/. lota e corpos se acumulam”, UOL (1/05/2020): FINANCIAL TIMES (2020): “Corona- https://noticias.uol.com.br/sa virus tracked”: ude/ultimas- https://www.ft.com/content/a notici- 26fbf7e-48f8-11ea-aeb3- as/redacao/2020/05/01/rio- 955839e06441. camara-frigorifica-de-

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hospital-lota-e-corpos-se- COVID-19” (28/04/2020): acumulam-fora.htm. https://www.gov.br/economia /pt-br/centrais-de- LOPES, M. (2020): “Brazil’s Bolso- conteu- naro fires Health Minister do/publicacoes/publicacoes- Mandetta after differences em-outros-idiomas/covid- over coronavirus response”, 19/covid-19-2020-04-24- Washington Post brazil-policy-measures-1830- (16/04/2020): 1.pdf/view. https://www.washingtonpost. com/gdpr- MULAKALA, A. (2020): “COVID-19 con- and China’s soft power ambi- sent/?next_url=https%3a%2f tions”, Devpolicy: %2fwww.washingtonpost.co https://devpolicy.org/covid- m%2fworld%2fthe_americas 19-and-chinas-soft-power- %2fcoronavirus-brazil- ambitions-20200424-2/. bolsonaro-luiz-henrique- mandetta-health- OXFAM (2019): “Brazil: extreme ine- minis- quality in numbers”: ter%2f2020%2f04%2f16%2f https://www.oxfam.org/en/br c143a8b0-7fe0-11ea-84c2- azil-extreme-inequality- 0792d8591911_story.html. numbers.

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rus’”, Carta Capital SANTIAGO, T. (2020): “Taxa de iso- (22/4/2020): lamento social em SP foi de https://www.cartacapital.com. 58% no domingo; pior índice br/politica/ernesto-araujo-diz- para o dia desde o início da que-pandemia-e-usada-para- quarentena do coronavírus”, implementar-o-comunavirus/. Globo (27/04/2020): https://g1.globo.com/sp/sao- QUADROS, V. and ANJOS, A.B. pau- (2020): “Coronavírus de um lo/noticia/2020/04/27/taxa- lado, invasores de outro: co- de-isolamento-social-em-sp- mo está a situação dos indí- foi-de-58percent-no- genas no Brasil”, Publica domingo-durante-quarentena- (14/04/2020): do-coronavirus-indice-ideal- https://apublica.org/2020/04/c e-de-70percent.ghtml. oronavirus-de-um-lado- invasores-de-outro-como- SARAIVA, A. (2020): “Brazil records esta-a-situacao-dos- nearly 2,800 deaths from indigenas-no-brasil/. mystery respiratory prob- lems”, The Brazilian Report RIBEIRO, G. (2020): “91 million Bra- (23/04/2020): zilians to default on their bills https://brazilian.report/corona in April”, The Brazilian Re- virus-brazil-live- port (19/04/2020). Disponible blog/2020/04/23/brazil- en: records-nearly-2800-deaths- https://brazilian.report/corona from-mystery-respiratory- virus-brazil-live- problems/. blog/2020/04/19/coronavirus- 91-million-brazilians-default- SHALDERS, A. (2020): “Bolsonaro bills-april/. diz que pode determinar aber- tura do comércio com ‘uma SALDAÑA, P. (2020): “Governo Bol- canetada’ semana que vem”, sonaro demite o presidente do BBC (2/04/2020): CNPq, órgão de fomento à https://www.bbc.com/portugu pesquisa”, Folha de S. Paulo ese/brasil-52144782. (17/04/2020): https://www1.folha.uol.com.b UOL (2020): “Por que isolamento r/educacao/2020/04/governo- vertical defendido por Bolso- bolsonaro-demite-o- naro é visto com ceticismo?” presidente-do-cnpq-orgao-de- (30/03/2020): fomento-a-pesquisa.shtml. https://noticias.uol.com.br/ult imas-noticias/agencia-

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estado/2020/03/30/por-que- isolamento-vertical-e-visto- com-ceticismo.htm.

VEJA (2020): “Com coronavírus, 1º de Maio é marcado por pro- testos pequenos e virtuais” (1/05/2020): https://veja.abril.com.br/mun do/com-coronavirus-1o-de- maio-e-marcado-por- protestos-pequenos-e- virtuais/.

ZAFALON, M. (2020): “Temeroso das ações do governo, agronegó- cio reduz apoio a Bolsonaro”, Fundación Carolina, mayo 2020 Blog vaivém das commodities - Folha de S. Paulo Fundación Carolina (5/05/2020): C/ Serrano Galvache, 26. https://www1.folha.uol.com.b Torre Sur, 3ª planta r/colunas/vaivem/2020/05/te 28071 Madrid - España meroso-das-acoes-do- www.fundacioncarolina.es governo-agronegocio-reduz- @Red_Carolina apoio-a-bolsonaro.shtml. ISSN: 2695-4362 https://doi.org/10.33960/AC_29en.2020

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