Brazil-Russia Relations and the idea of a polycentric international order

This ongoing study aims to exam the evolving relationship between Brazil and Russia, which, despite longstanding expectations of expansion, has followed a non-linear path over time. In recent decades, shifts in the international order—intensified by recurring global crises—have created opportunities for rhetorical convergence between the two countries. Both have increasingly promoted the idea of a multipolar (or polycentric) world as a strategic alternative to unipolarity, aligning their foreign policy discourses around a shared pursuit of enhanced status and influence in global politics. This discursive alignment appears to contribute to a strengthening of bilateral ties, with notable developments in recent years. A key example is the growing significance of trade between Brazil and Russia following the escalation of the Ukraine crisis in 2022, which altered global trade dynamics and fostered closer cooperation between non-Western actors. Grounded in the historical trajectory of Brazil–Russia relations since the 20th century and informed by contemporary geopolitical shifts, this research proposes to investigate the foundations and implications of this foreign policy convergence. It argues that both countries share a similar role identity, positioning themselves as constructive agents in the construction of a new multipolar order through soft balancing strategies. The study is structured in three parts: (1) a comprehensive literature review of bilateral and multilateral relations between Brazil and Russia, focusing on political, economic, and military dimensions; (2) an analysis of Brazil’s concept of multipolarity and Russia’s notion of polycentrism; and (3) a discussion of selected case studies from the 2000s onward, highlighting how both actors perceive and engage with the international system. By doing so, the research contributes to understanding the strategic logic and discursive frameworks underpinning emerging partnerships in global politics.