Brazil–China Relations in the 21st Century

This book explores the bilateral relationship between Brazil and China in modern history, environment, economics, and contemporary Brazilian politics. As China has become Brazil's largest trading partner, importing commodities and exporting manufactures, and a major investor in the country, Brazil's social structure has been upended, with traditional hierarchies jolted and new ones created- in the agribusiness, industry, in the diplomacy of climate change in the Amazon and not least, Brazil's traditional relationship with the United States. In this incisive text, one of Brazil's leading political scientists explores how China, the X factor of international relations, can transform a nation's politics; it will be of interest to economists, scholars of geopolitics, of China's Belt and Road Initiative and of Latin America politics.

“In the mid-seventies, Brazil’s right-wing dictatorship, fresh from destroying a maoist insurgency, established diplomatic ties with Mao’s China. By then, Chinese communists were interested in learning from Brazil’s industrialization strategy without running into the same bottlenecks that locked Brazil in the “middle-income trap”. Almost thirty years later, a China-fueled commodities boom helped Brazil’s anti-poverty efforts achieve extraordinary results. Another fifteen years go by, and now Brazil is ruled by a far-right president who uses China-bashing to fire up its base. Throughout this whole story, Brazil is still in the middle-income trap, China is still ruled by the Communist Party, and both countries are interlocked in investment projects in the Amazon. Santoro’s book provides extraordinary insight into how this story of globalization built from the south unfolded, and the problems that may emerge from it.” (Celso Rocha de Barros, political columnist at Folha de São Paulo)

“This is a reference book for those interested in the relationship between China and Brazil in the 21st century. Professor Santoro masterfully narrates such historical facts, pointing out political, diplomatic, cultural, and economic dimensions, contributing to a broader perception of this bilateral relationship. Summing up, this is an extremely relevant book, since China has for more than a decade been Brazil's main trade partner and, in the last one, Brazil's largest foreign investor.” (Dr. Thauan Santos, Professor of Economics at the Brazilian Naval War College, Brazil)

“This important book is a real trail-opener in covering Sino-Brazilian modern relationship. With a fluent prose and several significant interviews, it allows the reader a full view of the subject, covering political, economic and social issues. Santoro’s contribution is surely to influence present and future academic debates regarding how China and Brazil interact, as well as how this affects other interested countries.” (Professor Wellington Dantas de Amorim, Brazilian Naval Academy, Brazil)

“Mauricio Santoro is a keen observer of China. His book arrives at an opportune time. Even with the 2020 diplomatic disputes between a more ideological sphere of the current Brazilian government and the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Asian giant continued to prosper in our territory. This presence is the result of a solid history of partnerships and large international projects, such as the BRICS. Santoro managed to shed some light on this narrative, ranging from the diplomatic foundations of this relationship until current times and its most complex challenges, such as the construction of an environmental agenda during the political turmoil in Brazil. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the growing Chinese role, not just in Brazil, but also in Latin America.” (Pablo Ibañez, professor of Geography and International Relations, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

“Professor Santoro has brought his uniquely incisive, conversational and approachable brand of academic research to this fascinating book. I have always been bowled over by his wide reading and seemingly infinite reserves of perspective on issues and ideas all and sundry. His empathetic genius is vindicated in this novel text on Brazil-China relations. I am very glad to see his excellent ideas collated and presented for the wider academic and public community. An unmissable text!” (Devika Misra, professor of International Relations, O.P. Jindal Global University, India)

“Mauricio Santoro’s timely book captures the complexity of the evolving dynamic of the Brazil-China relations. He traces an insightful roadmap to understand the substance of this partnership in the last decades and points toward new potential trajectories to connect the two nations in a context of geopolitical power shifts.” (Luíza Duarte, global fellow at the Brazil Institute, Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars and at the American University in Washington, DC, USA)

“In times of an intensifying rivalry between the United States and China, middle powers like Brazil need guidance to navigate turbulent waters, especially after China overcame the United States as key trade partners of multiple nations. Using a fluid narrative and objective data, Santoro’s book provides an insightful analysis of not only current China-Brazil relations but the making of a more multipolar order as well. The chapters on commodities trade, energy and infrastructure investments, and climate diplomacy are specially welcomed to both students and practitioners wishing to understand what is at stake in the making of this strategic - albeit sometimes difficult – partnership.” (Erica Resende, Brazilian War College, Brazil)

“A vivid, insightful exploration of a relationship heavy with lessons about development and strategic goals in a multipolar world—from one of the scholars who knows the relationship best. Maurício Santoro guides readers through the actors, interests, debates, and tensions that make up Brazil’s and China’s influential nexus.” (Catherine Osborn, journalist and Foreign Policy columnist)

“From building airports to engaging in the Amazon forest, China has strengthened its foothold in Brazil. How should we think about this relationship and its strategic implications? A comprehensive look at the Sino-Brazilian relationship and its zenith in the second decade of the 21^st century. Dr. Santoro’s thoughtful analysis in Brazil-China relations in the 21^st Century provides the much needed local and global context for this significant but less-studied bilateral relationship.” (Dr. Vishakha N. Desai, Chair of Committee on Global Thought, Columbia University and President emerita, Asia Society)

Mauricio Santoro is Assistant Professor at the State University of Rio de Janeiro, where he was twice the head of the Department of International Relations. He has written over 40 academic papers/book chapters and the book “Ditaduras Contemporâneas”, and is a frequent contributor to international media outlets such as BBC, Guardian, New York Times, South China Morning Post, Washington Post, Xinhua.