Fifty Years of Ireland-Brazil Relations: Cultural Exchange, Academic Collaboration, and Shared Principles in the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

The Irish presence in the Latin American region has consolidated Ireland’s connection with the area and built a solid bond across the Atlantic. Indeed, the Irish diaspora has paved the way for founding diplomatic relations between Ireland and Latin America. This paper seeks to scrutinize the diplomatic ties between Ireland and Brazil, which have received little academic attention. Accordingly, it highlights the background of Irish-Brazilian ties through examining the role of the Irish diaspora in Brazil during the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. This work mostly examines these bilateral ties through the lens of Irish foreign policy. Therefore, it takes into account the evolution of the diplomacy of Ireland in the late twentieth century. Most importantly, this study assesses the diplomatic relations between Ireland and Brazil during the twenty-first century. More precisely, it considers divergent types of factors that have nurtured their bilateral relations. Consequently, it addresses cultural and academic initiatives conducted by Ireland in partnership with Brazil in the context of the twenty-first century. This paper also highlights the common principles supported by these nations, which fortify their diplomatic relations.