Foreign policy toward South America and parties' polarization: an analysis of PSDB and PT stances', along the government of Lula da Silva

This paper aims to map out the discourses and the distinction between the stances of the two major Brazilian political bodies concerning the foreign policy agenda: The Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), and The Workers' Party (PT). More precisely, the arguments of members linked with both parties will be explored with regard to the relations with the South American states, emphasizing the divergences that took place in electoral race environment to the republic presidency. The foreign policy politicization process and its unfolding to Inter-American relations are the central theme of this text. It will seek to the comprehension of the reasons and ways diplomacy achieved electoral importance in recent years and, despite of a lack of precision with the possibility of medium electorate attraction, diplomacy converted itself into a ubiquitous subject in presidential debates and in editorials from media vehicle with wide coverage.