Brazilian geopolitical thinking and foreign policy during the military regime: a complex relationship

Abstract

In this article we present the central hypotheses of two perspectives to analyze the Decision Making Processes in Brazilian Foreign Policy in general and especially about the relationship between Geopolitical Thought and Foreign Policy during the period of authoritarianism. The limitations of the "traditional" or "classical" perspective and the possibilities offered by the "complex" are enunciated. Finally, the applicability of the latter to the analysis of the relationship between Geopolitical Thought and Foreign Policy in the case of the Brazilian security policy of the South Atlantic in the period 964-1990 is discussed.