The contradictions of the internal bourgeoisie and Brazil-China relations in the Lula administrations

• Grant number: 22/05676-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): September 15, 2022
• Effective date (End): March 06, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Political Science - International Politics
• Principal Investigator: Armando Boito Júnior
• Grantee: Mariana Davi Ferreira
• Supervisor: Alfredo Saad Filho
• Host Institution: Instituto de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas (IFCH). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Research place: King's College London, England
• Associated to the scholarship: 19/01515-0 - The contradictions of the internal bourgeoisie and Brazil-China relations in Lula's governments, BP.DR

Abstract

This proposal will contribute to the development of the thesis in progress, through the internship to be developed at King's College London under the supervision of Professor Alfredo Saad-Filho. The thesis' subject matter is the political actions of the businessmen in the textile and soybean production chains vis-à-vis the relationship between Brazil and China during Lula's administrations (2003-2010). Both sectors were part of the internal bourgeoisie, which composed the power bloc during the aforementioned period. The initial hypothesis presented was that there were clashing views between those sectors on Brazil-China relations, and that those positions were determined by the gains and losses of each sector regarding Sino-Brazilian economic relations. The economic results obtained by each sector reflected on divergent positions from each concerning Brazilian foreign policy for China. The development of the research pointed to a more complex reality, resulting in changes to the initial hypothesis. The economic sectors studied cannot be seen as homogeneous blocs, in which case there would have only been one position regarding Sino-Brazilian relations. Our current hypothesis states that there is an intersection of different fractions of the bourgeoisie within each chain: in the soybean production chain and in the textile production chain. This intersection results in different positions concerning Brazil-China relations, considering each production chain. This research internship abroad will be developed through the following steps: i) participation in study groups and presentation of my forthcoming thesis for debate; ii) meetings with my host supervising researcher; iii) continuing the analysis of the data already collected; and iv) summer courses at King's College London and other institutions; v) attendance in academic events, presenting papers, as well as visiting libraries and other academic institutions. (AU)