A Humanist Foreign Policy for a Multipolar World

The evening offered a chance to understand the Ambassador’s foreign policy philosophy and hear his reflections on his distinguished career on the world stage. The Ambassador began by elucidating on two key pillars of the book, and of his view of foreign policy: multipolarity and humanism.

Starting with multipolarity, the Ambassador explained that the complex nature of today’s international relations can only be understood through multipolarity. The past 20 years have seen the rise of different types of power: regional powers with global power, global actors with little regional influence, and large economic and military powers. Indeed, multipolarity is not just an analytical concept for the Brazilian foreign service but a policy, hence continued investment in multipolar organisations, such as the G20.

The Ambassador continued to explain that, given the world is already multipolar, the division of the globe into spheres of influence is erroneous. Increasingly, international relations are trans-continental and countries are discovering affinities across different regions. Reflecting upon the current state of international affairs, the Ambassador emphasised that we are seeing a growing rupture in the Global North as US-European relations degrade. This is further evidence of the spread of multipolarity.

Humanism, the Ambassador explained, has its roots in Renaissance Italy, but remains deeply relevant. Its emphasis on scientific truth and the importance of political dialogue can help combat disinformation and continue to improve society.

The discussion turned to the use of international law and global institutions. The Ambassador stressed that although international law had not stopped recent unilateral action, it still must be protected and adhered to. The UN, in particular, retains moral and political weight within international affairs, and any future action on climate change will necessarily involve international cooperation.

Canning House extends its thanks to Ambassador Patriota for his insightful discussion on the future of international relations.

The full book can be read here:

Book info