Guyana and Brazil

From the Crisis of the Cooperative Republic to the Democratic Opening (1977-1986)

Abstract

After declaring itself a cooperative republic, Guyana underwent two remarkable processes: internally, it nationalized the production of bauxite and sugar, strengthening the power of the State over the population; externally, sought to play a leading role in the non-aligned countries and in the Third World, with the support of Cuba and China. In a context of economic crisis and territorial dispute with Venezuela, on the one hand, and several socialist movements in the Caribbean and Central America, on the other, the country got a high-level partnership from Brazil, guaranteeing commercial release and at the same time political support. Analyzing the documentation that the foreign ministers produced for the analysis of presidential generals, I try to analyze how Guyana has moved on the international scene, in view of Brazilian diplomacy and its capacity to absorb this complicated country in its zone of influence. I emphasize that this is an unpublished documentary series, a precious resource for research on Guyana in Brazil.