The Brazilian Policy of Sustainable Defence

The history of defence strategy in Brazil has been largely peace-orientated and the armed forces, which have developed independently, have been relatively small. However, recent stability in the economy, consolidation of democratic processes, and cooperation with its neighbours in the region have provided Brazil with the opportunity for new defence thinking which culminated in the 1996 announcement of a National Defence Policy (NDP). In this article the author assesses Brazil's place in the South American strategic theatre and the objectives and main purposes of the NDP. He examines the preventative, cooperative and non-military components of the Policy, which seeks to ensure a balance between state security and social well-being.