O artigo analisa a política externa adotada pelo Brasil em relação à África no período posterior à Guerra Fria. Por tratar-se de um tema permanente na agenda diplomática brasileira há décadas, as relações entre o Brasil e a África assumiram um papel de destaque no quadro da política externa do governo Lula. Queremos compreender seus significados e as possibilidades que se abrem para o Brasil no continente africano. Fazemos isso ressaltando a dinâmica político-comercial entre o país e os parceiros africanos, e mobilizamos as seguintes variáveis de análise: as ações diplomáticas e o fluxo de comércio estabelecidopelo Brasil com os países africanos localizados na região da África subsaariana. Como principal argumento, defende-se que o término da Guerra Fria implicou transformações substanciais na agenda diplomática brasileira, afetando diretamente o relacionamento do Brasil com os parceiros africanos. Desse modo, sustenta-se que as relações Brasil-África têm se caracterizado por um movimento de intensidade variável, com acentuado declínio entre as décadas de 1980 e 1990 e recuperação e possível adensamento a partir da gestão Lula. O trabalho divide-se em quatro partes. Na primeira, apresenta-se um quadro geral das relaçõesentre o Brasil e a África no período anterior à década de 1980. Em seguida, enfoca-se o impacto restritivo das crises econômicas internacionais sobre a realidade africana e brasileira, procurando identificar suas repercussões sobre a política externa brasileira em direção ao continente africano. O terceiro tópico dá atenção às potencialidades abertas para o Brasil no continente africano, enfocando as diretrizes e propostas da política externa desenvolvida pelo governo Lula. A última sessão procura sintetizar os argumentos desenvolvidos.

This article analyzes Brazil's foreign policy for Africa during the post-Cold War period. As a permanent theme within the Brazilian diplomatic agenda for decades, Brazil-Africa relations have taken on a salient role within Lula administration foreign policy. We attempt to understand the meanings and possibilities that it opens up for Brazil throughout the African continent. We do this by giving emphasis to the political and commercial dynamics between this country and its African partners, and we employ the following analytical variables: the diplomatic actions and the commercial flows that Brazil has established with African countries of the sub-Sahara region. As our main argument, we maintain that the end of the Cold War brought substantial change within the Brazilian diplomatic agenda, directly affecting Brazil's relationship with its African partners. Thus, we argue that Brazil-Africa relations have been characterized by intensely variable movement, with accentuated decline between the decades of the 1980s and 1990s and recovery and possible intensification during the Lula administration. Our work can be divided into four parts. In the first, we present a general picture of Brazil-Africa relations during the period that precedes the 1980s. This is followed by a focus on the restrictive impact of international economic crises on African and Brazilian realities, seeking to identify their repercussion on Brazilian foreign policy with regard to Africa. The third part looks at possible opening up toward Brazil on the African continent, placing emphasis on the directives and proposals for foreign policy developed by the Lula government. The last section attempts to provide a synthesis of the arguments that have been developed.

L'article analyse la politique étrangère adoptée par le Brésil à l'égard de l'Afrique dans la période postérieure à la Guerre froide. Parce que c'est un thème constant dans l'agenda diplomatique du Brésil depuis des décennies, les relations entre le Brésil et l'Afrique ont joué un rôle prépondérant dans la politique étrangère du gouvernement Lula. Nous voulons comprendre leur signification et les possibilités qui s'ouvrent au Brésil sur le continent africain. Nous faisons cela en mettant en évidence les actions politico-commerciales entre le pays et les partenaires africains, et nous mobilisons les variables suivantes : les actions diplomatiques et les flux d'échanges commerciaux établis par le Brésil avec les pays africains situés dans la région de l'Afrique sub-saharienne. Comme argument principal, nous prétendons que la fin de la guerre froide conduit à un changement substantiel dans l'agenda diplomatique brésilienne, qui affecte directement la relation entre le Brésil et ses partenaires africains. Ainsi, il est soutenu que les relations entre le Brésil et l'Afrique se sont caractérisées par un mouvement d'intensité variable, avec une baisse accentuée entre les années 1980 et 1990 et une récupération et même une consolidation depuis l'administration Lula. L'article est divisé en quatre parties. La première présente un cadre général des relations entre le Brésil et l'Afrique dans la période antérieure aux années 1980. Ensuite, l'accent est mis sur l'impact restrictif des crises économiques internationales sur la situation en Afrique et au Brésil tout en cherchant à identifier son impact sur la politique étrangère du Brésil vers l'Afrique. Le troisième thème porte son attention sur le potentiel disponible au Brésil sur le continent africain, mettant l'accent sur les politiques et les propositions de politique étrangère mises au point par le gouvernement Lula. La dernière section tente de résumer les arguments présentés.

O artigo analisa as relações Brasil-África entre 2003 e 2006, procurando demonstrar que a eleição de Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva trouxe nova dinâmica às relações do Brasil com o continente africano. O discurso e a prática diplomática deste governo convergem para a construção de alianças preferenciais com parceiros no âmbito das relações Sul-Sul. Nesse contexto, defende-se que África do Sul, Angola e Nigéria são parceiros políticos e econômicos essenciais à estratégia diplomática brasileira para o continente africano.

The article analyzes Brazil-Africa relations between 2003 and 2006, aiming to demonstrate that the election of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva injected a new dynamic to Brazil's relations with the African continent. The discourse and diplomatic practice of the Lula government have combined to help build preferential alliances with partners within the arena of South-South relations. In this context the text argues that South Africa, Angola and Nigeria are essential political and economic partners in Brazil's diplomatic strategy for the African continent.

Este artigo analisa as relações político-comerciais Brasil-África no governo Sarney, procurando demonstrar que as mudanças observadas no sistema internacional e na realidade doméstica afetaram diretamente a condução da política externa brasileira e, por conseqüência, a intensidade das relações do país com o continente africano.

This article analyzes the politician-commercial relations Brazil-Africa in the government Sarney, looking for to demonstrate that the changes observed in the international system and the domestic reality had directly affected the conduction of external politics Brazilian e, for consequence, the intensity of the relations of the country with the African continent.

The article aims to contribute to the debate on Legislative participation in Brazil's foreign policy. The research is based on presidential messages referent to international agreements forwarded to Congress for deliberation between 6 October, 1988 and 31 December, 2006. We find that the Brazilian institutional model does not totally restrict the decision-making process concerning international acts to the Presidency of the Republic and to the Ministry of External Relations. We submit that by analysing presidential messages referent to international agreements forwarded by the Executive to Congress for deliberation, and how these make their way through the Chamber of Deputies, it is possible to identify the existence of a broader spectrum of political participation than much of the literature tends to point out. Brazils Brazil s policy October 198 3 December 2006 decisionmaking decision making Relations Deputies out 19 200 1 20 2

The article aims to contribute to the debate on Legislative participation in Brazil's foreign policy. The research is based on presidential messages referent to international agreements forwarded to Congress for deliberation between 6 October, 1988 and 31 December, 2006. We find that the Brazilian institutional model does not totally restrict the decision-making process concerning international acts to the Presidency of the Republic and to the Ministry of External Relations. We submit that by analysing presidential messages referent to international agreements forwarded by the Executive to Congress for deliberation, and how these make their way through the Chamber of Deputies, it is possible to identify the existence of a broader spectrum of political participation than much of the literature tends to point out.