Brazil's international ethanol strategy and the lessons for the UK

在我读博士期间，我研究了巴西为创造一个全球乙醇市场所做的努力--乙醇是一种可以替代汽油从而降低温室气体排放的生物燃料。我特别关注巴西外交政策综合体（FPC）-参与国际事务的政府、企业和民间社会的所有行为者-如何互动，以及这如何导致建立全球乙醇市场的失败。为此，我进行了80多次专家访谈，查阅了相关文献，并分析了巴西外交部、美国贸易部、莫桑比克总统和世界贸易组织的主要文件。在我的研究过程中，我发现巴西外交政策委员会没有在必要的水平上进行内部合作，而且他们错误地判断了国际伙伴的偏好和利益。在更理论的层面上，我感兴趣的是各国如何增强和应用其软实力，即如何通过军事或经济力量以外的手段影响其他国家。巴西没有强大的军事或经济资源，因此必须主要依靠其软实力。到目前为止，文献缺乏对软实力的标准定义。根据我的研究发现，很明显，软实力的概念需要包括“解决政治问题”的能力。换句话说，如果一个国家能够证明自己能够管理好国内事务，并为本国人民带来成果，其他国家就更有可能在国际上接受其领导力。由于我的主要兴趣在于国际政治总体上如何“做事”的问题，特别是全球能源部门脱碳的全球努力，我想向决策者和市民解释，我们可以达到这个目标，以及成功的因素是什么。我的研究对外交政策专业人士，外交官和能源部门的人特别重要。我将优先与这些合作伙伴合作。在我的奖学金期间，我将在学术期刊上发表我的博士研究成果，重点是我研究的理论方面，并出版一本书，其中包括我工作的实证方面，也将向更广泛的非学术受众开放。此外，我将通过一份政策文件和一次政策影响活动，向英国政策制定者通报我的研究对英国的影响。在英国脱欧的背景下，这一点尤其及时，因为英国试图在解决政治问题的困难时期减少其能源系统的碳化。为了最大限度地发挥我的影响力，我制定了一个雄心勃勃的培训和推广计划，这将使我具备提高对成功外交政策制定的理解的工具。这个奖学金将使我能够创建一个出版物和政策影响记录，并建立自己在这一领域的专家。

During my PhD, I looked at Brazil's efforts to create a global market for ethanol - a biofuel that can substitute gasoline and thereby lower greenhouse gas emissions. I focused in particular on how the Brazilian Foreign Policy Complex (FPC) - all actors within government, business and civil society involved in international affairs - interacted and how this led to the failure in establishing a global market for ethanol. For this, I conducted over 80 expert interviews, reviewed the relevant literature and analysed primary documents from the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, the US Department of Trade, the Mozambiquean Presidency and the World Trade Organisation. During my research, it became clear that the Brazilian FPC did not co-operate internally at the level that would have been necessary and that they misjudged the preferences and interests of their international partners.On a more theoretical level, I am interested in how countries can enhance and apply their soft power capabilities, i.e. how they can influence other countries by means other than military or economic force. Brazil does not have significant military or economic resources and therefore has to mainly rely on its soft power capabilities. So far, the literature lacks a standard definition of soft power. With my research findings, it becomes clear that the concept of soft power needs to include the ability for "political problem solving". In other words, if a country can show that they can manage their affairs domestically and deliver results to their population, other countries are more likely to accept their leadership internationally.As my main interest lies in the question of how "stuff gets done" in international politics in general, and in the global effort to decarbonise the global energy sector in particular, I want to explain to policy makers and the public that we can achieve this objective and what the factors for success are. My research is particularly relevanty for foreign policy professionals, diplomats and people in the energy sector. I will prioritise engaging with these partners.During my fellowship, I will publish the findings from my PhD in an academic journal article that focuses on the theoretical aspects of my research and a book that includes the empirical aspects of my work and will also be accessible to a wider, non-academic audience. Additionally, I will inform UK policy makers about the implications of my research for the UK through a policy paper and a policy impact event. This is particularly timely in the context of Brexit as the UK attempts to de-carbonise its energy system during a difficult time for political problem solving.To maximise my impact, I have developed an ambitious training and outreach programme, which will equip me with the tools to advance the understanding of successful foreign policy making. This fellowship will enable me to create a publication and policy impact record, and establish myself as an expert in this field.