O interesse das grandes potências na África diante da visão brasileira: a presença da China e dos EUA na África Subsaariana – disputa por recursos naturais, novas fronteiras e o impacto geopolítico e econômico para o Brasil

Abstract

In an International System where Realism predominates, states make use of instruments toexert power and to seek hegemony over other states. Political and military powers havealways been important actors in this background, complemented by economic power andeconomic competition, which became extensions of the conflict. The maximization of thoseinstruments is the new State ́s weapon. Nowadays, a strong economy means power, influencepower, bargaining power or even negotiation power in main international organizations,where the hegemonic state prevails. Therefore, oil barrel, mineral resources, energy resources,extensions of agricultural land, a solid economy, the consumer market, etc., also allow statesto exert power. This work aims to identify the importance of owning mineral and energyreserves, because the progress and the increasing demand of these resources, mainly by majorpowers, is the topic of the moment. The major power are increasingly approaching Statesholding great amounts of mineral and energy resources, and many times with no appropriatetechnology or systems to explore them. Besides the resources demand and consequent trades,that are not restricted to commodities imports and manufactured exports by the Least-Developed Countries, in this case assembled in Sub-Saharan Africa, there is also the foreigndirect investment, especially in infrastructure works. The major power practice such artifice todisseminate their influence in the “partners countries”, exerting the soft-power, or even asmart-power, which brings a greater support or acceptance by several international regulatorybodies, such as the World Trade Organization, the United Nations General Assembly, theUnited Nations Conference on Trade and Development, among others. Lastly, in this sense, itwill be addressed China, United States of America and their relations to the Sub-SaharanAfrica countries, and how it may affect the relationship between Brazil and those Africancountries.