Brazil's Participation In The "BRICS Cooperation" Mechanism: Strategic Considerations And Cooperation Effects

In the 21^st century,a transformative tendency of the current international system comes along with the rise of emerging powers.In this process,BRICS not only becomes an important platform where emerging countries enhance multilateral cooperation and foreign policy instrument to increase international influence,but also represent an emerging power to reform the system of global governance.As a member state of BRICS,Brazil has participated actively in BRICS cooperation mechanism,which is the core policy of its South-South cooperation strategy.The paper aims to understand the political pursuit of Brazil in BRICS cooperation mechanism and the direction of its policies by analyzing Brazil's strategic considerations of BRICS cooperation and evaluating the effects that Brazil has performed through participating the cooperation mechanism.According to Wendt's Constructivism,a national identity determines a country's interests and guides its actions.Considering World-systems theory,the world is divided into three parts:core,semi-periphery,and periphery countries.On the basis of the two theories,this paper analyzes the self-identity of Brazil.Brazil not only regards itself as an emerging power of the developing world and the leader of South America,but also aspires to break through its semi-periphery position and to become a world power playing an important role in the decision of international affairs.Guided by Morgenthau's political realism:foreign policy is rational and continuous,this paper reviews the history of Brazil's foreign policy in two folds.?1?Two shifts of the emphasis of Brazil's diplomacy?from the U.K to the U.S.,and from the U.S.to developing countries??2?Essential issues addressed in Brazil's foreign policy?autonomy,multilateralism and development?.Then,this paper analyzes the system of Brazil's foreign policy goals supported by 4 core contents:?1?promoting regional integration process in South America and enhancing its regional leadership,?2?optimizing external conditions to benefit domestic economic growth,?3?expanding Brazil's participation in global governance,and?4?enhancing national security.Based on the above analyses,Brazil's strategies of BRICS cooperation serve to its national development strategy,diversify its economic and trade cooperation partnership,expand its participation in global governance and promote the transformation of the international system.Brazil has achieved more benefits than costs in BRICS cooperation mechanism.The mechanism supplements external impetus for Brazil's economic development,serves to the national development strategies,promotes practices of Brazil's regional strategy.It also allows Brazil to reach higher and wider participation in global governance,which helps to increase the international influence of Brazil and the international community's recognition for its seeking of“great power”identity.Therefore,the quality of participation has reached expected targets and accorded with its strategic considerations.As BRICS cooperation brings extensive benefits to Brazil and the consistency of Brazil's foreign policy,Brazil will continue to participate actively in the multilateral cooperation mechanism.China can formulate corresponding strategies by Brazil's considerations of BRICS to cooperate with Brazil more effectively.