Resumo Como os documentos de defesa do Brasil incorporam recursos naturais e infraestrutura crítica como componentes políticos e estratégicos da estrutura de segurança energética nacional? Após apresentar o panorama internacional contemporâneo, marcado por potências e geopolíticas emergentes, o artigo explica a teoria e os fundamentos conceituais que sustentam a reivindicação de um movimento de securitização de recursos naturais e infraestrutura crítica relacionada à segurança energética em resposta à ausência de ameaças existenciais ao Brasil. Seguindo esse esforço, o texto reflete e analisa como o assunto se desenvolveu de 2005 a 2016 nas políticas de defesa brasileiras e nas estratégias nacionais de defesa. Ao aplicar a teoria da securitização ao estudo de caso, as considerações finais convidam à reflexão acerca da importância de se incorporar a geopolítica dos recursos naturais e da infraestrutura crítica relacionada à segurança energética ao pensamento de defesa.

Abstract How do Brazil’s defence documents incorporate natural resources and critical infrastructure as political and strategic components of the national energy security framework? After presenting the contemporary international landscape on the subject, which is marked by rising powers and geopolitics, the paper explains the theory and the conceptual foundations that support the claim of a securitization movement on natural resources and critical infrastructure that relates to energy security in response to the absence of existential threats to Brazil. Following this effort, the text reflects upon and analyses how the matter has developed from 2005 to 2016 in Brazilian defence policies and in national defence strategies. By applying securitization theory to the case study, the final remarks imply the need for a reflection on the importance of incorporating the geopolitics of natural resources and critical infrastructure related to energy security in defence thinking.

Abstract How can defense cooperation with process-tracing methodology be explained? To answer this question, this paper tests the ability of process-tracing explanations in the case of the Brazilian proposal for the creation of the Union of South American Nation’s (UNASUR) South American Defense Council (CDS). Combining process-tracing methodology with a case study research design, this paper analyzes which causal pathways, mechanisms, timing of events, and policies best explain Brazilian behavior.