Race, gender and human rights in Brazilian foreign policy in the Bolsonaro government (2019-2021)

This article is part of broader research dedicated to analyzing gender and human rights policies in Brazilian Foreign Policy in recent years, especially since President Jair Bolsonaro took office in January 2019. This paper focuses on Bolsonaro's and Chancellor Ernesto Araujo's public speeches' intersectional approaches concerning race and gender between 01/01/2019 to 03/31/2021. This research applied the Content Analysis methodology to systematize and analyze 66 official public speeches given by both authorities in international forums. Our findings indicate that racial issues in Brazil directly result from a reinterpretation of the well-known myth of racial democracy established in the country from the ideal of miscegenation. In the current context, these are essential elements of national and foreign policy by expressly or diffusely reinforcing the racist Brazilian structure and whiteness.

Automated summary

This article is part of a larger research project that examines gender and human rights policies in Brazilian Foreign Policy, particularly since President Bolsonaro took office. The study focuses on the intersectional approaches of President Bolsonaro and Chancellor Araujo on race and gender issues. Content analysis methodology was used to analyze 66 official public speeches given by both leaders in international forums. The findings reveal that racial issues in Brazil are a direct result of reinterpreting the myth of racial democracy, and these issues have significant implications for national and foreign policies, reinforcing racism and white privilege.