A mesh of theories has shaped the concept of a Blue Amazon, particularly in the
field of international relations and geopolitical studies.
125 Currently, it seems to be
consensual in academia that three main pillars support the theoretic edifice of the
Blue Amazon. Firstly, the strong association between the Blue Amazon and
oceanopolitics—understood as geopolitical studies centered on the oceans—which
attributes great relevance to the management and defense of the Blue Amazon in line
with UNCLOS.
126 Secondly, the consideration that only an efficient management of
the Blue Amazon will pave the way for economic prosperity and the defense of
Brazilian sovereignty.
127 Thirdly, the categorization of the Blue Amazon in four
main dimensions—or major areas of interest of the Brazilian state: assurance of
sovereignty national defense, via exercising politico-strategical influence in the
South Atlantic Ocean; economic prosperity; scientific and technological innovation;
and, finally, environmental conservation.
Beginning by that last theoretical “pillar”, or the dimensions of the Blue Amazon,
one should clarify upfront that a hierarchy exists between them. In most states’
strategic calculations, considerations of an economic, political, and sovereignty
nature occupy a more privileged place than environmental ones in national longterm planning and decision-making. To use a term borrowed from international
relations theory, the economic, political and sovereignty realms could be equaled to
topics pertaining to “high politics”, whereas environmental considerations are rarely
given such a centrality, being usually relegated to the field of “low politics”.
128
9.2.3.1 Sovereignty and Defense Dimension
Stark emphasis is laid on the dimension of sovereignty and national defense of the
Brazilian Blue Amazon concept. Tor the Brazilian naval strategists, reflections on
the South Atlantic Ocean relate to matters of geopolitical influence through the sea
towards other states. The South Atlantic represents the most accessible medium for
Brazilian regional power projection, but its importance has not been linearly
assessed throughout the country’s history. An important landmark in the theorizing
of the South Atlantic Ocean as a key platform for the projection of Brazilian
geopolitical influence can be found in the 1996 First National Defense Policy,
according to which, “the conception of regional space extrapolates the South
American continental mass and also includes the South Atlantic Ocean”.
129
125 Several texts and publications dedicated to analyzing different facets of the Blue Amazon
concept are authored by officials of the Brazilian Navy or have been bred within the premises of
the Brazilian Naval War College. It is the case of publications by Barbosa Júnior and More (2012).
126 More (2012), p. 247.
127 Marinha do Brasil (2013), p. 10.
128 For a critical view on the distinction between “low” and “high politics” in international relations
theory, see Olsen (2017), p. 638.
129 Ministério da Defesa do Brasil (1996) 1
Plano Nacional de Defesa.
9.2 The Brazilian Extended Continental Shelf: A Larger Blue Amazon
281
field of international relations and geopolitical studies.
125 Currently, it seems to be
consensual in academia that three main pillars support the theoretic edifice of the
Blue Amazon. Firstly, the strong association between the Blue Amazon and
oceanopolitics—understood as geopolitical studies centered on the oceans—which
attributes great relevance to the management and defense of the Blue Amazon in line
with UNCLOS.
126 Secondly, the consideration that only an efficient management of
the Blue Amazon will pave the way for economic prosperity and the defense of
Brazilian sovereignty.
127 Thirdly, the categorization of the Blue Amazon in four
main dimensions—or major areas of interest of the Brazilian state: assurance of
sovereignty national defense, via exercising politico-strategical influence in the
South Atlantic Ocean; economic prosperity; scientific and technological innovation;
and, finally, environmental conservation.
Beginning by that last theoretical “pillar”, or the dimensions of the Blue Amazon,
one should clarify upfront that a hierarchy exists between them. In most states’
strategic calculations, considerations of an economic, political, and sovereignty
nature occupy a more privileged place than environmental ones in national longterm planning and decision-making. To use a term borrowed from international
relations theory, the economic, political and sovereignty realms could be equaled to
topics pertaining to “high politics”, whereas environmental considerations are rarely
given such a centrality, being usually relegated to the field of “low politics”.
128
9.2.3.1 Sovereignty and Defense Dimension
Stark emphasis is laid on the dimension of sovereignty and national defense of the
Brazilian Blue Amazon concept. Tor the Brazilian naval strategists, reflections on
the South Atlantic Ocean relate to matters of geopolitical influence through the sea
towards other states. The South Atlantic represents the most accessible medium for
Brazilian regional power projection, but its importance has not been linearly
assessed throughout the country’s history. An important landmark in the theorizing
of the South Atlantic Ocean as a key platform for the projection of Brazilian
geopolitical influence can be found in the 1996 First National Defense Policy,
according to which, “the conception of regional space extrapolates the South
American continental mass and also includes the South Atlantic Ocean”.
129
125 Several texts and publications dedicated to analyzing different facets of the Blue Amazon
concept are authored by officials of the Brazilian Navy or have been bred within the premises of
the Brazilian Naval War College. It is the case of publications by Barbosa Júnior and More (2012).
126 More (2012), p. 247.
127 Marinha do Brasil (2013), p. 10.
128 For a critical view on the distinction between “low” and “high politics” in international relations
theory, see Olsen (2017), p. 638.
129 Ministério da Defesa do Brasil (1996) 1
Plano Nacional de Defesa.
9.2 The Brazilian Extended Continental Shelf: A Larger Blue Amazon
281