ABSTRACT
The article analyses interactions between members of the Brazilian private sector and the Brazilian state apparatus during Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's two terms as president, from 2003 to 2010, within the domestic and foreign public policies' framework, which would have fomented relations with African countries pursuing instrumental gains. The article supports the thesis that actors from both private and governmental sectors achieves advantages as they emprehend synchronic actions. While the private sector succeeds in minimizing its operational and political costs in its external investments, the Brazilian government, in parallel, uses such private investments as a means of expanding its international influence and achieve its objectives. In light of this, three cases of Brazilian companies that invested in Africa during the investigated period, are analyzed.
KEYWORDS
Lobbying; private sector; Brazilian foreign policy; Africa; Lula