NOTICIAS LATIN AMERICAN PROGRAM NEWSLETTER FALL 2003 Brazil-U.S. Relations n June 4, 2003, Brazil @ The Wilson Diplomatic Relations in Regional and Center, in conjunction with the International Contexts.” OBrazilian Embassy in Washington and An opening panel discussed U.S.-Brazil the Brazil Information Center, hosted an all day relations in historical perspective, focusing on seminar on “Brazil and the United States in a major developmental influences within the Changing World: Political, Economic, and context of long-term socio-historical change. Noting past encounters with state nationalism, former U.S. ambassador to Brazil and Brookings Institution scholar Lincoln Gordon warned of the hazards of what he called “unhealthy and negative nationalism” in Brazil. Despite publicized fears of anti-U.S. sentiment in Brazil, however, he argued that current bilateral relations are quite healthy. Moreover, he indicated that bilateral trade dis- putes, which have characterized relations in recent months, are indicative of a healthy bilateral relationship insomuch as they are out- growths of democratic state discourse in a globalized age. Presenting an alternative view, Paulo Roberto de Almeida of the Brazilian Fernando Furlan, Minister of Development Embassy detailed the development of today’s Brazil-U.S. Relations 1-3 Argentina @ the Wilson Center 17-20 Democratic Security in Colombia 3-4 Political Crisis and the Threat to Democratic Governance 20-21 Argentina-United States Bilateral Relations: An Historical 4-6 Brazilian Environmental Policy under Lula 21-22 Perspective and Future Challenges Presidential Candidate Lucio Gutiérrez 22-23 Mexico’s Changing Politics 6-7 Chiapas: The Dilemmas of the Current Conflict 23-24 Religion and Society in Cuba 7-9 and Negotiation Brazil’s 2002 Presidential Election 9-10 Promises and Disillusionment: Affirmative Action and 24-25 Race Relations in the United States and Brazil NAFTA at Ten 10-12 INSIDE Creating Community 25 Legislatures and Trade Agreements 12 The Geopolitics of Oil: Iraq and Venezuela 25-26 Honduran President Discusses Regional Integration 12-13 Interns and Researchers 27 Urban Crime and Violence in Latin America and the 13-15 Caribbean Recent Publications 28-29 Bilateral Relations between Mexico and the United States 15-17 Fellows and Public Policy Scholars 30 NOTICIAS hesitant and distrustful bilateral relationship. parison with South Korea. Both DeWitt and While private investment has increased in Brazil Cardoso emphasized the role of institutions— since 1995, Almeida argued that Brazil needs the from farms to international financial organiza- opportunity to develop further if it is to achieve tions—in influencing the course of develop- an equitable and balanced relationship with the ment. They argued that due to globalization and United States. Thomas Skidmore of Brown its varied effects on society, current institutions University observed that Brazil spent significant may now be much more highly contested than resources promoting itself to Washington during ever before. the 1990s, perhaps at the cost of further and During a luncheon speech, U.S. Permanent deepened state socio-economic development. Representative to the OAS Ambassador Roger He proposed increased export promotion for Noriega laid out the Bush administration’s policy Brazil as a means to reduce its dependence on towards Brazil and Latin America. While capital inflow and to redress the balance of pay- emphasizing the strong need for pragmatism in ments. Skidmore also directed attention to future U.S.-Brazilian relations, Noriega noted that Brazilian-U.S. trade policy and conflicts that may both countries are strongly supportive of a arise. Eduardo Viola of the University of Brasilia multi-lateral trade agenda and that it would be highlighted the influential role played by the possible to work together in forming a strong Brazilian media in shaping the view of national trade-based U.S.-Brazil partnership. He rejected society, both towards the United States and the notion that the United States has diverted its development policy in general. attention away from Brazil and Latin America A second panel on “Parallel Paths of since September 11th and underscored the Development and Economic Interdependence” importance of the FTAA for the region. focused on historical and contemporary socio- During a third panel on regional trade issues economic development within a comparative and related hemispheric/multilateral negotia- framework. John DeWitt,a long-time Foreign tions, Jeffrey Schott of the Institute for Service Officer and adjunct professor at the International Economics discussed the chal- University of Florida, discussed the similarity of lenges to U.S.-Brazilian trade liberalization. socio-economic development in Brazil and the Noting that both countries have much to gain American South during the 18th and 19th cen- from such liberalization, he stated the need for turies. Georgetown University visiting scholar continuing dialogue on the issues of steel, citrus, Eliana Cardoso assessed economic policy and sugar, telecom, government procurement, and growth in Brazil during the last century in com- tariffs. Brazilian Ambassador Rubens Barbosa also argued for a continued and bal- anced dialogue on trade issues, Brazil Advisory Council while also highlighting the diffi- culties of negotiating FTAA Over the past 30 months Brazil @ the Wilson Center has become a valued within the rules and guidelines source of quality information and analysis for U.S. policy makers and set forth by the WTO. Marcelo de scholars. In addition to generating interest and debate on issues related to Paiva Abreu of the Pontifical Brazil-U.S. relations, the project has created new channels of communica- Catholic University of Rio de tion among leading scholars and policymakers in both countries, address- Janeiro, contrasted the political ing key issues on the bilateral agenda and promoting the exchange of ideas. obstacles in Brazil and the In order to facilitate the continued growth and evolution of the project, United States which have hin- the Wilson Center has invited distinguished Brazilian and American lead- dered economic integration. He ers from public service, academia, and the private sector to serve as mem- noted that strong protectionist bers of an Advisory Council. We are pleased to announce that former U.S. lobbies and resistance to close Ambassador to Brazil Anthony Harrington has accepted the invitation to U.S. relations are obstacles in serve as the U.S. chair of the Council. Brazil, while the U.S. tends to be ignorant of “how things work” 2 FALL 2003 matic and political friction on such issues as trade, she noted that Lula’s election was an important event in and of itself, indicating a consolidation of Brazilian democracy. She argued that a new state-based pragmatism toward the United States is emerging in Latin America, with Brazil leading the way. Luis Bitencourt, director of Brazil @ the Wilson Center, pointed to questions of practical policy formulation, highlighting the extent to which a Roger Noriega workable view of future relations can be con- structed within Brazil and the United States. in Brazil as it emphasizes “special goods” Luiz Fernando Furlan, Brazil’s Minister of exemptions in negotiations. Paolo Giordano of Development, Industry & Foreign Trade, the Inter-American Development Bank, mean- emphasized his commitment to improving and while, argued for a closer examination of the expanding Brazil’s exports and implementing FTAA-WTO relationship and the role played by social security and other reforms by the end of civil society in the FTAA process. the year. Both Ambassador Barbosa and Furlan The last panel, entitled “Prospects for predicted that Lula’s June 2003 visit to the Bilateral Relations in 2003 and the Future,”dis- United States would be highly beneficial for the cussed the new administration of President Luis deepening of U.S.-Brazilian dialogue, and Inacío Lula Da Silva and its relations with would assist in clarifying issues of contention President Bush and other major world partners. regarding the EU and FTAA. Peter Hakim of the Inter-American Dialogue argued that neither the United States nor Brazil ever found the relationship satisfactory. At pres- Democratic Security in ent, however, Hakim stated that much of Colombia Brazil’s possible international success stems from its internal accomplishments in the areas of fiscal Colombian President Álvaro Uribe spoke at a policy, investor confidence, and sustained September 24, 2002, breakfast co-sponsored by growth. Thomaz Guedes da Costa of the National the Latin American Program, the Council on Defense University noted that, while Bush and Foreign Relations, the Inter-American Dialogue, Lula share many personal affinities, Brazil needs the Center for Strategic and International to be much more proactive if it is to successfully Studies, the Association of American Chambers reinvigorate U.S.-Brazil relations—Brazil will earn the respect of the United States only when it is able to convince the Bush administration that it is an influential “shaper” of the state sys- tem. William Perry of William Perry & Associates indicated that both Bush and Lula are practical leaders, and that idealizations of the bilateral relationship as continual and harmo- nious are not only unrealistic but also harmful to policy formulation. Maria Regina Soares de Lima of the Inter-University Research Institute of Rio de Janeiro emphasized the many cultural linkages between the two states as an example of a growing Brazil-U.S. convergence in the post- Cold War era. While predicting future diplo- Rep. Jim Kolbe and President Álvaro Uribe, photo courtesy of sardari.com 3 NOTICIAS of Commerce of Latin America, and the Colombia—the FARC, ELN, and AUC—to Heritage Foundation. Uribe outlined a program enter into dialogue with the government fol- of “democratic security” to protect Colombian lowing a cessation of hostilities. Uribe also civilians from armed groups of the left and right, noted that the Secretary-General of the United and pledged to enlarge the armed forces and Nations had agreed to lend its good offices in national police.