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The environment as a strategic priority in the European Union–Brazil partnership: is the EU behaving as a normative power or soft imperialist?

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  • Stavros Afionis
  • Lindsay Stringer

Abstract

In 2007, Brazil entered the European Union’s (EU) list of strategic partners; a token of recognition of the place Brazil occupies in current global affairs. Although promoting bilateral environmental convergence is a stated priority, cooperation between the EU and Brazil in this policy field is largely under-researched, raising interesting questions as to whether the current state of play could support EU claims for the normative orientation of its external environmental policy. Through an analysis of partnership activities in the fields of deforestation and biofuels, we suggest that while normative intentions may be regarded as a motivating force, critically viewing EU foreign environmental policy through a ‘soft imperialism’ lens could offer a more holistic understanding of the current state of bilateral cooperation. While the normative power thesis can be substantiated with regard to deforestation, we argue that by erecting barriers to shield its domestic biofuels production, the EU is placing trade competitiveness and economic growth above its normative aspirations. Subsequently, the partial adoption of sustainable development as an EU norm leads to policy incoherence and contradictory actions. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Suggested Citation

  • Stavros Afionis & Lindsay Stringer, 2014. "The environment as a strategic priority in the European Union–Brazil partnership: is the EU behaving as a normative power or soft imperialist?," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 47-64, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ieaple:v:14:y:2014:i:1:p:47-64
    DOI: 10.1007/s10784-013-9232-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Stavros Afionis & Lindsay C. Stringer & Nicola Favretto & Julia Tomei & Marcos S. Buckeridge, 2016. "Unpacking Brazil’s Leadership in the Global Biofuels Arena: Brazilian Ethanol Diplomacy in Africa," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 16(3), pages 127-150, August.
    2. Matilda Petersson & Peter Stoett, 2022. "Lessons learnt in global biodiversity governance," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 333-352, June.
    3. Agni Kalfagianni & Oran R. Young, 2022. "The politics of multilateral environmental agreements lessons from 20 years of INEA," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 245-262, June.

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