Brazil recognized the independence of Sao Tome and Principe in 1975, the Brazilian embassy wasn’t open that same year unlike for Guinea-Bissau and Cape- Verde. The relation established was marked by an amicable dialogue which let the door open to enlarged relations. In 1984, was signed the “Acordo Básico de Cooperação Científica e Técnica entre o Governo da República Federativa do Brasil e o Governo da República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe”. Basic cooperation agreement such as the one of 1984 represents the will of Brazil to turn its policy to the African country and to PALOP. Brazil’s will to broaden its foreign relations with developing country is illustrate by the creation of the ABC in 1987. ABC is now a major actor in the bilateral
Timeline of diplomatic relations among Brazil and Sao Tomé and Principe 1975 Opening of diplomatic relations among brazil and Sao Tomé and principe
1984 Sao Tome and Principe signs a basic technical cooperation agreement with Brazil 2002 Sao Tome and Principe president , Fradique de Menezes, visits Brazil for the IV summit
of CPLP
2003 Brazil opens an embassy in Sao Tomé and Principe and the Brazilian cultural centre 2003 Brazilian president Lula da Silva visits Sao Tomé and Principe
2004 Brazilian president Lula da Silva visits Sao Tomé and Principe at the occasion of the V summit of CPLP
2005 Sao Tome and Principe president, Fradique de Menezes, visits Brazil
2006 Sao Tome and Principe president of the electoral commission of STP visits Brazil to assist the electoral process
2007 Brazil grants US $ 5 million credit to Sao Tome and Principe to purchase Brazilian first necessity products and food
2009 Sao Tome and Principe prime minister, Joaquim Rafael Branco, visits Brazil
2015 Brazilian foreign relations minister, Mauro Vieira visits Sao Tome and Principe, meets STP Prime minister Patrice Trovoada and chanceler Manuel Salvador dos Ramos
relations between Brazil and Sao Tome and Principe. Technical cooperation is the central pillar of the bilateral relations among the two countries, they focus on specific areas such as education, health, informatization of the local government, agriculture, alphabetizing the adults, defense, infrastructures, HIV/AIDS prevention. It is to be said that after its independence Sao Tome and Principe faced difficulty to develop stable institutions and a democratic government. Between 1975 and 1990, dissidents regularly threatened the country government and the institutions were particularly weak. In 1990, Sao Tome and Principe managed to organize a referendum in favor of a new constitution, multipartism and agreed on ending death penalty sentences. The limited amount of diplomatic relations from 1975 to 2000s, can be explained by instability of the Cape-Verdean government combined to the economic difficulties and political changes Brazil was facing during the 1980s, and the non-turn-toward-Africa policy of Fernando Henrique Cardoso. Even if the creation of the CPLP in 1996 marked a step forward in multilateral relations process between Brazil and Sao Tome and Principe. This institution puts the Portuguese language at its heart and promotes the cultural ties among these countries. When it comes to reinforcing international relations and binding with other country the languages ties are not to underestimate. Cultural cooperation is an aspect on which Brazil wanted to work with Sao Tome and Principe. De facto, insisting on the historical and demographic links allows Brazil to increase its legitimacy to develop stronger business in PALOP, which is a way to sceal their cooperation and show their goodwill. When Lula arrived in power the relation between the two countries increased. Sao Tome and Principe is now the second PALOP in term of bilateral cooperation and technical projects with Brazil.
Technical cooperation
The basic cooperation agreement of 1984 opened the door for Sao Tome and Principe to benefit from Brazil international development projects. As most of the developing countries Sao Tome and Principe have deficits in most of the sectors of its society, the country is still constructing and stabilizing many institutional sectors. Among the challenges of Sao Tomeans there are the basic needs of citizens such as education,
health, employment management, social inclusion. Education is a major field of cooperation for Brazil; the long-term benefit resulting from it makes it one of the first field of cooperation to develop. In partnership with the ministry of education of Sao Tome and Principe, Brazil have open the PEC-G and PEC-PG program to Sao Tomeans students. Between 2000 and 2017, a total of 379 students (over 7373 African students) went to follow an undergraduate program in Brazilian universities (Annex 1). On the same period 12 students took a graduate program in Brazil thanks to the PEC-PG (Annex 2). Sao Tome and Principe is the fifth country in Africa benefiting the most from these programs. The ABC has another partnership with the ministry of education of Sao Tome and Principe since 2014, which links cultural and educational projects. The project has two aspects, one is to offer training to professors in the fields of Portuguese language and literature, and the other is to plan cultural events on an annual basis. On a less specific field, Brazil is also investing in a more general project of alphabetization of the population. The Alphabetization program is now paired with a basic alimentary program. The objective, similar to what Bolsa familiais, aims at motivating families to send their children to school, so they get primary education and food. Alphabetization programs are also implemented for adults, the ABC works on it, notably with the UNESCO and NGOs such as Alfabetizaçao Solidaria. They try to provide the most adapted system to increase the participation (flexible schedules, rural and urban classes, using various method of advertising as social media, door to door), it is also to mention that beneficiaries of the program received a small monthly compensation of food (MEC; 2015; 19, 32). According to the UNESCO, the analphabetization level decreased since 2005. Unemployment is an issue in Sao Tome and Principe. Unemployment usually results of a structural situation where the society isn’t providing enough offers as well a lack of human capital, where the population does not have the skills required to be hired. In the field of professional formation Brazil have implemented several projects in Sao Tome and Principe. The first step is the creation of a center of professional formation, which is coordinate and financed by the ABC. It provides trained professors often from the SENAI and the machines necessary to fulfill a complete training. The ABC also supports craft art. The project is partnership with the CPLP, NGOs and the ministry of education and culture. By supporting the development of craft
these organisms, intend to develop individual skills, the exploitation of local resources and dynamize the economy and tourism. Brazil also provides formations in other field, for example for diplomats. Sao Tome and Principe sends two diplomats each year to undertake a formation in Rio Branco institute. This program is partly funded by the CPLP and Brazilian ministry of foreign affairs. Strengthening the state is part of the challenges for Sao Tome and Principe, to support it, a trilateral agreement with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency sends delegation of Sao Tomeans politicians to Brazil to follow a short formation on public policies. The support to the government isn’t only achieved through formation.
Concrete actions has also been realized. An important urban program has been carried out. It included the design of an urban plan, the redaction of an effective legislation on urban habitations and construction and a structure of social fund distribution for urban population. On a related topic Brazil cooperated with the Sao Tomean government on the elaboration of a sustainable management of water in the country. Water supply, evacuation and treatment is a crucial point for a developing country. Managing urban areas and water is not only a social and governmental help it is also a way to increase the population well-being and salubrity. Indeed, healthcare is a capital element to the sustainable development of a country. Brazil had and is still in progress when it comes to managing health issues.
Tropical and infectious diseases are fields in which Brazil has invest. Brazilian organisms such Fiocruz are researching efficient and affordable solutions so developing countries can contain these diseases. Their researches are ongoing. Concerning some issues they found solutions which they are willing to share with they're cooperating partners. Sao Tomean program of fight against tuberculosis and prevention of malaria were, therefore, supported by Brazil. The ABC also coordinates a program fighting against HIV/AIDS in Sao Tome and Principe, which similarly to Guinea-Bissau and Cape-Verde includes free medicines supplies (MRE; 2018).
Trade
Sao Tome and Principe’s economy is limited due to the size of the country and its restrained resources. The few sectors in which the country has a relative
competitiveness are cocoa production, in 2016 it represented 71% of its exportations (OEC; 2018). On the other hand, Sao Tome and Principe needs to import most its basic and alimentary products. The commercial balance of the country is negative as in 2016 the country exported US $16, 3 millions while it imported US $144 millions. Brazil in these exchanges remains a small partner. Indeed, concerning Sao Tomean exportation in 2016 Brazil didn’t imported nothing according to the OEC, the only South-American countries importing from Sao Tome this year are Colombia and Peru. Concerning importation, Brazil is the biggest South-American partner as it represents 99% (US $1, 55 million) of Sao Tome and Principe’s business with the continent. The nature of the exchanged goods isn’t available. The Comex Stat, the Brazilian institute managing importation and exportation doesn’t provide additional information on the products exchanged between the two countries, nevertheless it provides the amount of exchanges in 2017. It appears that exchanges increased of few thousand hundreds, passing from US $1, 55 million to US $1, 84 million. These amounts could appear as paltry although it proves that despite Brazil’s government difficulties these years trade with Sao Tome and Principe isn’t part of the current Brazilian government spending cuttings.
Diminished role of military power
Military isn’t central to Brazil’s foreign policy, nevertheless it remains an element needed by a state to fulfill its role toward its citizens. In the intention of strengthening the Sao Tomean government Brazil has launch some training for Sao Tome and Principe’s legal forces. Within that perspective Brazil’s federal police department in partnership with Sao Tomeans ministries of justice and public administration will provide training for the local information services. A military training is also offered to cadets in the service. Sao Tomeans military cadets get the opportunity to receive their formation in Brazil’s military institution Agulhas Negras. A relevant point of bilateral relations between the two countries link to defence, is the naval mission Brazil launched in Sao Tome and Principe. The project’s goal is to structure the naval power of Sao Tome and Principe, although the background is the promotion of the Brazilian initiative South Atlantic Peace
and Cooperation Zone (ZOPACAS in Portuguese; Zona de Paz e Cooperação do Atlântico Sul) (Itamaraty; 2018).
Analysis
Among the three study cases of this paper the bilateral relations among Brazil and Cape-Verde might be the most explicit one. Sao Tome and Principe is among the smallest state existing in all terms, economic, demographic, geographic etc. Its position in the Guinean gulf could lead to believe it is rich in oil, but not even. Moreover agreements concerning oil searching and potential exploitation have already been agreed few years ago with Nigeria (World Bank; 2016). The interests Brazil have in cooperating with Sao Tome and Principe are mostly based on their shared language and colonial past currently transcribe in their common belonging to the CPLP. Diplomatic relations are opened after the independence as a gesture of recognizing their independency nonetheless the embassy only opens in 2003 at Lula’s arrival at the head of the state. 2003 is a turning point in Brazil foreign policy in general it is enshrined in a more general will of international opening, especially toward south countries. Sao Tome and Principe represent the perfect country to put in practice technical cooperation as they need much it is difficult to see economical or geopolitical hidden interest in their cooperation. Hence the increase of the relations shows the actual will of Brazil to support the network created by the CPLP as well as their intention of genuinely providing assistance. It could be seen as just genuine but it is now known that Brazil will of increasing its relations with southern and less developed countries was also part of a strategy to gain recognition among the biggest players. Nonetheless this two sided vision isn’t incompatible with a neoliberal institutionalist approach. Indeed both countries are using institution such as CPLP and culture to improve their situation.
Analysis
The final analysis is offering a retrospective on the theoretical notion of neoliberal institutionalism in the light of the study cases.
The study of Brazil’s foreign relations with Guinea-Bissau, Cape-Verde and Sao Tome and Principe allows to draw the further analysis regarding the neoliberal institutionalist approach. The study cases are addressed with reference to: the frequency of diplomatic relations, bilateral and multilateral cooperation programs, trade relations and the importance granted by cooperation to military and institutional forces. The pillars of the theory, defined in the theoretical framework (absolute gains, information sharing, iterated relation, power over outcomes) have been associated with the elements developed in each study cases (diplomatic relations, technical cooperation, trade, diminished role of military power). Iterated relations and information sharing are associated to the frequency of diplomatic relations, as lasting and well- maintained diplomatic relations implies regular interactions and building a diplomatic trust. Technical cooperation and information are also to be paired; as technical cooperation consists in providing knowledge to a partner, sharing a technology or a know-how to another country is an important sign of trust in international relations. Absolute gains and technical cooperation are matched as the concept of absolute gain is to accept the outcomes of a project even though the partner may obtain results with a greater value (political aims or economical ones). Power over outcomes is related to trade, cooperation and military partnerships; as the concept of power over outcomes lies on the capabilities of states to interact and cooperate without a military threat looming at one another. For the country benefitting of the actions, it represents a real gain, whether for Brazil the gain isn’t much infrastructural or financial, but it is international empowerment. The fact that Brazil gains power from the cooperation process, links it to the notion of power over outcomes which recalls the diminished role of military power.
Iterated relation is one of the key concepts, it stands for the idea that anchored and repeated diplomatic relations are likely to have a positive spill-over. This aspect also underlines the trust building process, elementary in bilateral relations. In Guinea- Bissau, Cape Verde and Sao Tome and Principe diplomatic relations with Brazil were initiated in 1974 or 1975 (independencie) and the general trend is that they kept increasing. A temporary lull can be observed during the military junta (until 1985). Furthermore, back in this decade the foreign policy strategy was directed toward South-
American countries, Brazil was strengthening its regional position. The regional empowerment was particularly tough due to the United State of America stranglehold in Latin America (Stolte; 2015, 87,88). It justifies that south-south relations with African countries wasn’t, then, at the heart of Brazilian foreign policy. Nevertheless, the immediate acknowledgement of Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde and Sao Tome and Principe independences is a significant sign of goodwill. It opens the door to further cooperation and shows a solidarity which is entrenched in a past of Portuguese colonization. The shared colonial past is an essential aspect in the bilateral relations dynamic existing among Brazil and these three countries. Indeed, the memory of the common past has been used in bilateral relations (notably with Cape Verde) to impulse partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation. It was central to Lula’s foreign policy, strongly oriented toward south-south cooperation. In 2013, despite him leaving power to Dilma Roussef, he was still defending this idea:
“Brazil has an historic responsibility to Africa and is working to establish with the countries of Africa a relationship based on respect for sovereignty and shared development” (Lula, 2013)
Lula’s policy is particularly rooted in the will of mutual benefits and south-south relations. Mentioning the respect of sovereignty, might be a manner for the former president to remind the fight for independence toward European countries but also the post-imperialism tendencies of traditional northern powers. To go further on the iterated relations topic, the international institutions and agreement aspect is necessary to address. In neoliberal institutionalism (as in its mere theory, liberalism) the international scene is, initially, in a state of anarchy and States are the only sovereign actors. Therefore, when two or more states agree to gather in a multilateral agreement, they give away a part of their sovereignty to gain greater benefits from cooperating. Recalling, Kant’s theory of self-interest, each actor is driven by its personal interest and despite the selfishness and will of independency; cooperating brings greater benefits. Thereby, entering an agreement has serious stake for states. Multilateral agreements and institutions are supposed to be lasting, otherwise the effort deployed to gather the
countries and settle are vain. The creation of the CPLP (Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe, Angola, Mozambique, Equatorial Guinea, East Timor, Portugal) in 1996 is a clear example of the will of building entrench foreign relations. A decade earlier Brazil did also create the ABC which turns to be the most important cooperation actors with developing countries. What is observable from the diplomatic relation of Brazil between the 1980’s and 1990’s is that south-south relations are limited but existing. Even a country as small as Sao Tome and Principe opens diplomatic relation and signed a cooperation agreement (1984) with Brazil. This kind of example draws the idea that gathering partners is important for Brazil. This strategy is following the idea that an increase number of small allies brings a broader importance on the international scene.
Discussing the ABC carries the notion of cooperation among states, the role of this institution has grown since its creation. The graph below isn’t specifically about