Brazilian hydro-hegemonic leadership?

MARCELO SAGUIER

Ciudad del Cabo

Workshop; The Role of Regional Leaders in Africa and at the Global Level; 2012

University of Cape Town

Brazil's aspiration to become a global player is dependent on its capacity exercise a leadership role in South America in the construction of a politically cohesive and an economically integrated region. Building a regional hydro-electrical infrastructure is a key aspect of this endeavor. The paper explores the politics and processes of transboundary water governance in South America as a case study of Brazilian international leadership. Leadership capacity is assessed in relation to the rise of socio-environmental conflicts stemming from dams projects, competing national interests and state-business arrangements. The analysis sheds light into the new dynamics of inter-relations between regional and global processes which define the opportunities and limitations of Brazil to consolidate its rising standing in the world stage.