%0 Journal Article
%T The Brazilian challenge: how to manage asymmetrical regional relations beyond the OAS
%A Paulo Sotero
%J Revista CIDOB d'Afers Internacionals
%D 2012
%I CIDOB
%X Viewed by the Lula administration as a relic of the Cold War, the OAS was mostly viewed as an observation post. Diplomats were instructed to maintain a defensive stance and to prevent actions perceived as contrary to Brazilian interests. Indifference turned to ill-disguised anger, however, in the first months of the Dilma Rousseff administration, after the Inter-American Human Rights Commission (IHRC) issued an injunction instructing Brazil to cease construction of the controversial Belo Monte Hydroelectric Power Plant. BrazilĄ¯s reaction included the recalling of its ambassador from the OAS, withdrawing BrazilĄ¯s candidate for the IHRC and suspending its annual contribution to the OAS. This has compounded the OASĄ¯s existential problems by making the organisationĄ¯s financial position even more precarious. If it goes unresolved, however, the clash could complicate BrazilĄ¯s strategy to assert its regional and global leadership as a champion of human rights and multilateralism.
%K OAS
%K Brasil
%K hemispheric relations
%K multilateralism
%K United States
%U http://www.cidob.org/es/publicaciones/articulos/revista_cidob_d_afers_internacionals/97_98/el_desafio_brasileno_como_gestionar_las_relaciones_regionales_asimetricas_mas_alla_de_la_oea