Brazil’s Discourse on the Environment in the International Arena, 1972-1992

Barros, Antonio Teixeira de

doi:10.1590/S0102-8529.2017390200011

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Articles • Contexto int. 39 (02) • Aug 2017 • https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-8529.2017390200011 copy

Brazil’s Discourse on the Environment in the International Arena, 1972-1992

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

In this article, I analyse key statements by the Brazilian government about environmental issues during two important decades, from 1972 to 1992. I identify the specific subjects addressed by Brazilian spokespersons, and the rhetorical strategies they adopted for doing so. I conclude that these spokespersons largely adopted a defensive posture in response to mounting international pressures on a range of environmental issues, while using various rhetorical devices to highlight the positive dimension of the government’s environmental policies and initiatives.

Keywords
Environment; International Relations; Environmental Discourse; Brazil

Subject	1972-79	1980-89	1990-92	Total	% of total
The Sustainable Development Challenge	–	–	06	06	5.10
Foreign Policy Speeches I and II	–	–	04	04	3.40
Brazil’s international insertion	–	–	04	04	3.40
Brazil’s voice in the UN	05	01	03	09	7.65
I National Development Plan (I PND)	01	- -	- -	01	0.85
II National Development Plan (II PND)	01	- -	- -	01	0.85
III National Development Plan (III PND)	–	02	- -	02	1.70
I Basic Plan of Scientific and Technological Development (I PBDCT)	–	–	–	–	–
II Basic Plan of Scientific and Technological Development (II PBDCT)	02	- -	- -	02	1.70
III Basic Plan of Scientific and Technological Development (III PBDCT)	–	02	- -	02	1.70
I New Republic Targets National Plan	–	01	- -	01	0.85
National Environment Programme	–	06	–	06	5.10
President Itamar Franco’s foreign policies	–	–	02	02	1.70
Amazonian Cooperation Treaty	03	–	–	03	2.55
Summary of Brazil’s Foreign Policies	11	18	13	42	35.70
Total	23	30	32

Audience	1970	1980	1990	Total	%
International community	17	19	32	68	60.50
Brazilian society	03	05	04	12	39.50
Total	20	24	36	89	100

Themes	1970	1980	1990	Total N	%
Access to technology	–	02	04	06	1.70
Amazon	14	21	13	48	13.80
Stockholm Conference	02	03	06	11	3.10
Ecological consciousness	03	02	04	09	2.40
Regional cooperation	06	08	05	19	5.70
Environmental damages	03	03	04	10	2.60
Nuclear disarmament	04	02	03	09	2.40
National economic development	08	12	11	31	8.90
Regional development	04	07	05	16	4.60
Sustainable development	–	–	17	17	4.90
Funding projects	02	03	02	07	2.10
Alternative energy sources	02	02	01	05	1.40
Economic integration	04	04	07	15	4.30
Environment and land reform	–	01	03	04	1.15
Population and environment	–	02	03	05	1.40
Pollution	05	09	02	16	4.60
National Parks	–	03	–	03	0.90
PNUMA	–	03	03	06	1.70
Quality of life	–	05	02	07	2.10
Human resources qualification	–	03	–	03	0.90
Sovereignty/self-determination	06	17	13	36	10.40
Shared use of natural resources	04	01	–	05	1.40
TOTAL	67	113	108	288	100

Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Relações Internacionais Rua Marques de São Vicente, 225 - Casa 20 , 22453-900 Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brasil, Tel.: (55 21) 3527-2284, Fax: (55 21) 3527-1560 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil
E-mail: cintjournal@puc-rio.br

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[1] Antonio Teixeira de Barros holds a PhD in Sociology with an emphasis on Science, Technology and Society from the University of Brasilia (UnB), Brazil. He has been a university professor since 1995. He currently teaches the MA programme in Political Science at the Centre for Education, Training and Advancement of the Chamber of Deputies (CEFOR), Brazil, where he also researches institutional policy of the legislative branch. He has conducted research on environmental policy and environmental sociology since the early 1990s, and has written numerous papers for national and international journals, as well as book chapters. His current research addresses the issues of youth and environmental policies, environmental management in Brazilian metropolises, and related topics.