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Demanding a Seat at The Table: Brazil’s and South Africa’s Role Conception in their Quest for Permanent Seats at the United Nations Security Council

Wehtje, Betty LU (2023) FKVK02 20231
Department of Political Science
Abstract
In a changing world order, emerging middle powers from the global South may seek new positions in international societies. Using the United Nations as an international society, this thesis aims to investigate what roles the emerging middle powers, Brazil and South Africa, enact in pursuing permanent seats at the Security Council. This research conducts a qualitative text analysis using official data from 2010-2019 to explore Brazil’s and South Africa’s relationship with the United Nations and their calls for reform of the Security Council. The English School of international relations is used to understand the international environment and state behavior, and role theory is applied to analyze states’ foreign policy and their role... (More)
In a changing world order, emerging middle powers from the global South may seek new positions in international societies. Using the United Nations as an international society, this thesis aims to investigate what roles the emerging middle powers, Brazil and South Africa, enact in pursuing permanent seats at the Security Council. This research conducts a qualitative text analysis using official data from 2010-2019 to explore Brazil’s and South Africa’s relationship with the United Nations and their calls for reform of the Security Council. The English School of international relations is used to understand the international environment and state behavior, and role theory is applied to analyze states’ foreign policy and their role conception in international relations. This study shows that while Brazil and South Africa are reformists, they are strong supporters of multilateralism and international society is fundamental for their ability to influence global order. Furthermore, both Brazil and South Africa adopt roles connected to their interests as middle powers and advocates for the global South, but these are embodied differently. Brazil’s arguments are more rational and global, focusing on performance, resources, and capabilities, while South Africa's arguments emphasize fairness, morality, and justice for Africa. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Wehtje, Betty LU
supervisor
organization
course
FKVK02 20231
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Brazil, South Africa, emerging middle power, UNSC Reforms, role conception, international society
language
English
id
9116948
date added to LUP
2023-08-27 17:17:49
date last changed
2023-08-27 17:17:49
@misc{9116948,
  abstract     = {{In a changing world order, emerging middle powers from the global South may seek new positions in international societies. Using the United Nations as an international society, this thesis aims to investigate what roles the emerging middle powers, Brazil and South Africa, enact in pursuing permanent seats at the Security Council. This research conducts a qualitative text analysis using official data from 2010-2019 to explore Brazil’s and South Africa’s relationship with the United Nations and their calls for reform of the Security Council. The English School of international relations is used to understand the international environment and state behavior, and role theory is applied to analyze states’ foreign policy and their role conception in international relations. This study shows that while Brazil and South Africa are reformists, they are strong supporters of multilateralism and international society is fundamental for their ability to influence global order. Furthermore, both Brazil and South Africa adopt roles connected to their interests as middle powers and advocates for the global South, but these are embodied differently. Brazil’s arguments are more rational and global, focusing on performance, resources, and capabilities, while South Africa's arguments emphasize fairness, morality, and justice for Africa.}},
  author       = {{Wehtje, Betty}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Demanding a Seat at The Table: Brazil’s and South Africa’s Role Conception in their Quest for Permanent Seats at the United Nations Security Council}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}