Strategies of transnational advocacy networks for Brazilian foreign policy: an introduction

This paper investigates the impact of NGOs on Brazilian diplomacy during Lula's administration, using shaming as a strategy to place Human Rights violating regimes under the spotlight, but also to pressure their allies. The hypothesis is that NGOs are necessary for the debate about shaming Human Rights violators, but not sufficient to trigger a change of Brazil‘s position on the country’s ties with violators. I investigate the importance of NGOs in transnational advocacy networks and the preferences of Brazilian foreign policy from 2003 to 2010. Finally, I analyze cases in which Brazil was criticized by NGOs for having “friendly” ties with countries accused of being violators of Human Rights. The findings show that Brazilian diplomacy was against the international scrutiny of countries violating Human Rights, highlighting dialogue and cooperation as a better strategy to improve Human Rights records.