"Emerging Powers" as obstacles to Effective Multilateralism : The negative impact of Brazil's Foreign Policy on the Rhetoric of "Civilian Power Europe"

International audienceThe emergence of Brazil as an important international actor is an accepted fact. In an emerging world order that is trying to produce effective multilateralism, the collaboration between "like-minded" democratic states and other political entities is a necessary though not sufficient pre-condition. This article offers a critical analysis of the impact of Brazil's foreign policy during the Lula and Rousseff presidencies. It argues that especially during Lula's two terms in office, Brazil's ́foreign policy has had a particularly negative impact on the rhetoric of "civilian power Europe". The article concentrates on a number of case studies. The wider interest of this article is that it offers an illustration of how difficult the task of creating a new multilateral world order will be.[ES] La emergencia de Brasil como actor internacional importante no cabe más duda. En un nuevo orden mundial basado sobre multilateralismo efectivo, la colaboración entre estados y otros entes democráticos de "ideas afinaes" es una condición necesaria aunque no suficiente. Este artículo presenta un análisis critico del impacto de la política exterior de Brasil bajo las presidencias de Lula y Rousseff sobre la retórica de la "potencia civil europea". El artículo ilustra esto con ejemplos concretos. El interés más general es que presenta también una ilustración de lo complicado que es crear un nuevo orden internacional multilateralista