Introduction: A South American Power Making Inroads into Africa

Brazil has been making international headlines over the past few years. As “B” in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and host country for a whole number of major international events, the rising South American power has received a lot of international attention and has attracted increasing international investment. Bidding for and hosting international events like the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) (2012), the World Youth Day (2013), the FIFA World Cup (2014), and the Olympics (2016) Brazil has become an increasingly visible actor in the international arena since the presidency of Lula da Silva (2003–2010). Yet, not all of the increased international activism that has marked Brazil’s foreign policy since the turn of the millennium has been as visible as the hosting of international mega events. Other actions have been less in the focus of the international media but have been just as important and impressive.