Climate securitisation and foreign policy formulation: an analysis of the role of the military through public policy lenses

Abstract

This project, submitted for the renewal of a productivity fellowship, aims to investigate the role of the military in the formulation of Brazilian foreign policy on climate-related issues. Based on the assumption that foreign policy and defense constitute sui generis public policies, the research lies on a context marked by the intensification of the climate emergency and the proliferation of conflicts, suggesting an increasing prominence of the Armed Forces as political actors, both domestically and internationally. The scholarly literature is unequivocal in identifying the military as relevant political actors throughout Brazil’s republican history, although varying in intensity over time. The abundance of studies addressing this phenomenon contrasts with the scarcity of research on the role of these actors in the formulation of foreign policy. Moreover, the Armed Forces have been increasingly mobilized to respond to climaterelated crises. Even when not deliberately intended, the involvement of the military in climate responses contributes to a process of political empowerment of these actors in climate-related debates. The expansion of military activities beyond their traditional responsibilities, as well as the consequences of this phenomenon, has been the subject of growing international research, yet there remains significant room to strengthen this debate in Brazil. The relevance, originality, and innovative character of this research contribution are thus evident. The project is structured around three analytical axes: an analysis of the international climate regime and Brazil’s role within it; a mapping of the institutional channels through which the Armed Forces exert influence over foreign policy; and an investigation of military perceptions and motivations. Specific methodologies were developed for each stage, combining a range of tools (including document analysis, interviews, and surveys) guided by the principles of Foreign Policy Analysis.

Manager at PPGCM

Rubens de Siqueira Duarte (ECEME/PPGCM)