Itamaraty on the move: institutional and political change in Brazilian foreign service under Lula da Silva's presidency (2003-2010)

Abstract

This article aims to provide answers to two questions prompted by the latest reforms of Brazilian foreign service during Lula da Silva's presidency: How exactly might these institutional changes generate any impact over the Brazilian diplomatic corporation cohesion at large? How could bureaucratic insulation be undermined as an unexpected outcome of this process? To accomplish their objectives, the authors will briefly review the process of institution-building in Brazil, with an emphasis on the diplomatic corporation and the transformations it has undergone over the last three decades.