Brazil's national defense strategy: prospects for the twenty-first century

Abstract

This thesis analyzes the factors that have contributed to the reshaping of Brazil's national defense strategy. It addresses the role of geopolitics, the impact of regional economic integration through Mercosur, renewed nationalism, and the uncertain political realistic facing Brazil in the 1990s. Further sections review the historical role of the Brazilian armed forces, the fading importance of the Superior War College, the new civil- military relationships, and the concept of strategic planning in Brazil. Lastly, it examines the dilemma facing Brazil's armed forces in attempting to move from an internal to external security orientation. It discusses the military mission to develop and integrate the Amazon, and argues that this nation-building mission is in its final phase. In assessing he implications, of all these factors, the study concludes that Brazil is restructuring its military strategy to demonstrate sovereignty in the Amazon while aspiring to occupy the role of regional hegemon.