Foreign Policy of Equal and Near Equals: Insights in Kenya’s Relation with Brazil
Author(s)
Thomas Otieno Juma , Peter Buluma ,
Download Full PDF Pages: 27-38 | Views: 10 | Downloads: 4 | DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.12671486
Abstract
A number of dispositional factors describe states in international environment; colonized and uncolonized states, small states and big states, economic giants and weak economies, the South – North divide, developing against developed, and superpower versus other states. Whereas some of the descriptions overlap and others lack clear description of state groupings, from the global alignment of states exists equal and near equal states an observation that we enhance as a new concept. This generally sets an unofficial trend of state security in international dealings. In this article, the authors find it necessary to discuss the insights of foreign policy behavior of equal and near equal states with Kenya and Brazil in mind, wherein we argue that there is an affinity developed in such relations. Secondly and finally, we focus on specific socio-eco-political impacts of cooperation between Kenya and Brazil. Within these parameters we interrogated the operations of foreign policy within the conceptual limits in our topic. We concluded that there are merits in relating with equal and near equals but no state should use this framework to close its doors to other global players hence the reason why Kenya and Brazil continue to take the bilateral and multilateral policy directions that they advance within international hemisphere. Suffice to say they cannot move in a single-loop directional foreign policy trajectory but to embrace a multi-loop directional approach. It is of great merit in foreign policy when equal and near equal states promotes bilateral relations, multilateralism, and joint co-operations which Kenya and Brazil have exercised through opening and maintaining fully-fledged missions, an exchange that Vienna Convention on state relations uphold
Keywords
Foreign Policy, Bilateral Relations, Multilateral Relations, North-South States, Low Income Countries, BRICS Diplomacy, Small States Diplomacy, Big States Diplomacy, etc
References
Abdenur, Adriana Erthal and de Souza Neto, Danilo Marcondes (2014). Brazil’s growing relevance to peace and security in Africa. Report by NOREF.
ACBF (African Capacity Building Foundation) (2011). Africa Capacity Indicators 2011: Capacity Development in the Fragile States. Harare, Zimbabwe: ACBF. http://www.acbf-pact.org.
ADB (African Development Bank Group) (2011). ADB Statistics Pocketbook. http://www.afdb.org.
Alexandre Barbosa de Freitas, Thais Narciso and Marina Bianclalana (2009), ‘Brazil in Africa: Another Emerging Power in the Continent?’, Politikon, 36(1), pp. 59–86.
Alves, A. (2014) Brazil in Africa: Achievements and Challenges. Buenos Aires.
As, Bojang (2018). The Study of Foreign Policy in the International Relations. Journal of Political Sciences and Public Affairs; Volume 6, Issue No. 4.
Baskın, O. (2011). Turkish Foreign Policy, 1919-2006: Facts and Analyses with Documents. Utah University press.
Bogonko, Tania (2019). The Advancement of Kenya’s Foreign Policy Goals: The Case of the Diaspora Diplomacy Pillar. A Thesis Submitted to The School of Humanities and Social Sciences, United States International University.
Cabral, L. and J. Weinstock (2010) Brazilian Technical Cooperation for Development: Drivers, Mechanics and Future Prospects (London: Overseas Development Institute), http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/download/5002.pdf.
Chhabra,T., Doshi, R., Hass, R., and Kimball, E. (2020). Global China: Great Powers. G20, Osaka Summit.
de Oliveira, Marcos Aurelio Guedes (2017).Key Issues on the Brazilian Foreign Policy.
https://cienciapolitica.org.br.
EIA (U.S. Energy Information Administration) (2009). “International Energy Statistics—Biofuels production: Total Biofuel Production 2009.” www.eia.gov.
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) (2009). “Country Rank in the World, by Commodity: Brazil.” Latest update, FAOSTAT. http://faostat.fao.org.
Felsch, Maximilian (2017). The Foreign Policy of Weak States: The Case of Lebanon. Paper for ISA International Conference Hong Kong.
Gibson H (1944). The Road to Foreign Policy. Doubleday, Doran and Company Inc., Garden City.
Hirst M, S., De Lima, & Regina, M. (2006). ‘Brazil as an intermediate state and regional power: Action, choice and responsibilities’, International Affairs, 82, 1, pp. 21–24.
Hirst, Monica (2009). An Overview of Brazilian Foreign Policy in the 21st Century: African Insights, Global Perspectives Emerging Powers Programme, Policy Briefing 6.
Hurrell A. (2008). ‘Lula’s Brazil: A rising power, but going where?’ Current History, February, pp. 51–57.
IPEA (2010). Objetivos de Desenvolvimento do Milênio – Relatório Nacional de Acompanhamento. www.ipea.gov.br.
Juma, T. O., Kurgat, P. K., and Gitonga, M. (2020). Diplomacy in the 21st Century: A Crossroad for ‘Small States’ Amidst Global Power Play. International Affairs and Global Strategy; Vol. 83.
Laura, N. (2008). The New Foreign Policy: Power Seeking in a Globalized Era. Lanham, Md: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers.
Mabera, Faith (2016). Kenya's foreign policy in context (1963–2015), South African Journal of International Affairs, 23:3, 365-384, DOI: 10.1080/10220461.2016.1254677.
Mateos, Simone Biehler.(2011). “Ajuda ao próximo e ao distante.” IPEA Desenvolvimento 65: 4
MME (Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy) (2011).Monthly Bulletin on Biofuels no. 40. www.mme.gov.br/spg.
Obala, Luke (2013). Kenya’s 2013 Elections and Emerging Foreign Policy. Al Jazeera Centre for Studies, Al Jazeera Media Network.
OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) (2005). “Agricultural Policy Reform in Brazil.” OECD Policy Brief, Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development, Washington.
Petrobras (2009). “Produção de petróleo no país aumentou 6,3% em 2009.” www.petrobras.com.
Republic of Kenya. (2014). Kenya Diaspora Policy. Retrieved from http://www.mfa.go.ke.
ROK (2014). Kenya’s Foreign Policy. Nairobi.
Seibert, Gerhard (2019). “Brazil’s Development and Financial Cooperation with African Countries.” In Brazil-Africa Relations: Historical Dimensions and Contemporary Engagements from the 1960s to the Present, edited by Gerhard Seibert, and Paulo G. Fagundes Visentini, 99–130. Rochester, NY: James Currey.
Simon Freemantle and Jeremy Stevens (2009), ‘Tectonic Shifts Tie BRIC and Africa’s Economic Destinies’, Standard Bank Economics, BRIC and Africa, 14 October 2009, p. 10.
Simon Freemantle and Jeremy Stevens (2010), ‘Brazil Weds Itself to Africa’s Latent Agricultural Potential’, Standard Bank Economics, BRIC and Africa, 1 February 2010, p. 2.
Vinicius de Freitas, M. (2016) Brazil and Africa: Historic Relations and Future Opportunities. Policy Brief. GMF, OCD Policy Center.
Webber, Julie (2021). Levels of Analysis in International Relations, Political Science 151 Lecture. Department of Politics and Government, Illinois State University.
Cite this Article: