THE BRAZILIAN POLICY OF SUSTAINABLE DEFENSE

The history of defence strategy in Brazil has been largely peace-orien tated and the armed forces, which have developed independently, have b een relatively small. However, recent stability in the economy, consol idation of democratic processes, and cooperation with its neighbours i n the region have provided Brazil with the opportunity for new defence thinking which culminated in the 1996 announcement of a National Defe nce Policy (NDP). In this article the author assesses Brazil's place i n the South American strategic theatre and the objectives and main pur poses of the NDP. He examines the preventative, cooperative and non-mi litary components of the Policy, which seeks to ensure a balance betwe en state security and social well-being.