Desafio para o Itamaraty

Abstract

Replying to my article of January 2013, published by this journal, Ambassador Gonçalo Mello Mourão concludes with an interesting medical metaphor that reiterates my original hypothesis. My article reflected complaints and preoccupations that I have been hearing throughout one decade of talks with relevant actors that deal with external affairs policies in Brazil. The criticism I hear dos not deny the quality of Itamaraty’s diplomats. But they refer to the “God complex” that sometimes is attributed to surgeons by other physicians. The general opinion is that Itamaraty resists to hearing to external opinions about its policies. My point is not that the Brazilian foreign policy is a problem for Itamaraty, but if Brazilian foreign policy has not become too much dependent on Itamaraty.