Ledarskap, ideologi och utrikespolitiskt handlande - En idéanlys av Brasiliens utrikespolitik under Bolsonaro och Lula

This thesis explores the role of political leadership and ideology in shaping foreign policy, using Brazil under Jair Bolsonaro and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as a comparative case. While Brazil’s structural position in the international system remained relatively stable, the country’s foreign policy orientation shifted significantly between the two administrations. Employing a comparative ideational analysis, the study draws on neoclassical realism, populism, and liberal institutionalism to examine how leaders’ ideological frameworks mediate systemic pressures. The analysis centers on foreign policy priorities such as multilateralism, regional cooperation, global engagement, and normative commitments, particularly in the area of climate policy. The findings indicate that Bolsonaro’s nationalist and populist ideology fostered a foreign policy characterized by unilateralism, skepticism toward international institutions, and a strong emphasis on sovereignty. In contrast, Lula’s leadership reflects a more institutionalized and cooperative approach, highlighting multilateralism, regional leadership, and engagement with the Global South. The study demonstrates that ideology and leadership act as key intervening variables, shaping foreign policy outcomes beyond what structural explanations alone can account for.