A Brazilian health foreign policy? The role of health in Brazilian foreign affairs

Author(s)

Fernanda Aguilar Perez

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Relações Internacionais (IRI)
• Defense date: 2018-10-08

Examining board members

Deisy de Freitas Lima Ventura; Feliciano de Sá Guimarães; Ann Horton Kelly; Leticia de Abreu Pinheiro

• Advisor: Deisy de Freitas Lima Ventura

Abstract

Recently, health has become a point of interest for International Relations analysts. In terms of economics, security and social justice issues, health is being debated as part of countries\' foreign policy formulation. Brazil, for example, recognizes the importance of health as part of its foreign policy, being a signatory of the Oslo Ministerial Declaration (2007) on Foreign Policy and Global Health, and having included the theme across various international negotiation contexts, both bilateral - for instance, in South-South Cooperation with African States - and multilateral - with the Union of South-American Nations or with the India, Brazil and South Africa Dialogue Forum. Moreover, since health is a constitutional right in Brazil, the country already possesses a legal framework which encompasses the development of international health cooperation. By establishing the concept of structured cooperation for health, Brazil emphasizes cooperation that strengthens the sanitary institutions of different countries. The main objective of this study is to analyze whether there is a specific foreign policy on health in Brazil in the period from 2003 to 2014, exploring the components, actors and principles of which it is made. Additionally, there will be an attempt to understand if Brazil\'s international action in the field of health converges with the principles of the country\'s own Unified Health System. Actors are mainly institutions part of either the MoH or MoFA. Regarding constituent elements and principles, certainly solidarity, universal health care, knowledge sharing and cooperation with global South countries were the bricks of all Brazilian actions in this Health Foreign Policy. There is also a deep commitment to the idea of structuring cooperation for health. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/00072-4 - A Brazilian foreign policy in health? The role of health in the Brazilian foreign affairs
• Grantee: Fernanda Aguilar Perez
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate