Why Do Mercosur’s Trade Agreements Have Few Environmental Provisions? A Mixed Methods Study of Brazil's Ruralist Lobby

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dc.contributor.advisorRice, Roberta
dc.contributor.authorde Castro Rocha, Bryanne
dc.contributor.committeememberHuebert, Robert
dc.contributor.committeememberTuxhorn, Kim-Lee
dc.date2022-11
dc.date.accessioned2022-07-11T19:50:50Z
dc.date.available2022-07-11T19:50:50Z
dc.date.issued2022-07
dc.description.abstractThe first section of this paper examines the level of environmental regulation on preferential trade agreements (PTAs) signed by Mercosur members (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay). Using quantitative methods, this paper finds that PTAs signed by Mercosur members have fewer environmental provisions than PTAs from other countries or blocs, regardless of whether these other countries are from the global North or South. To understand why that is the case, the second section of this paper turns to the domestic politics of a Mercosur member, Brazil. Previous literature has pointed out that Brazilian agrarian elites are a powerful lobby in Brazil, concentrating in the Ruralist Bench in Congress. These elites oppose environmental regulations since their production is environmentally damaging. Given that these elites produce mainly for exports, they would be especially interested in lobbying for trade agreements with low environmental standards. Using qualitative methods, this paper found mobilization in the Brazilian Congress to quickly approve PTAs without discussions regarding their provisions. Furthermore, it found a lack of mobilization from the Environmental Bench and civil society against the low level of environmental regulation of Brazil’s PTAs. These findings point out that those interested in mitigating climate change and advancing sustainable development are missing a critical arena for action, the Brazilian Congress. Lowering the effects of international trade on the environment is critical to reaching climate change and sustainable goals. This paper has shown that Mercosur’s PTAs have an exceptionally low number of environmental provisions, which must be addressed. Furthermore, it has identified a key arena of advocacy and lobbying that is being left empty by civil society, the ratification of Mercosur’s PTA in the Brazilian Congress. By identifying such an arena, this paper has contributed to future research, policymakers, and civil society to lower the effects of trade on the environment and advance sustainable development.en_US
dc.identifier.citationde Castro Rocha, B. (2022). Why do Mercosur’s trade agreements have few environmental provisions? A mixed methods study of Brazil's ruralist lobby (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/39892
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/114824
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisher.facultyArtsen_US
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.en_US
dc.subjectMERCOSURen_US
dc.subjectSustainable Developmenten_US
dc.subjectEnvironmenten_US
dc.subjectEnvironmental provisionsen_US
dc.subjectNon-trade provisionsen_US
dc.subjectPreferential trade agreementsen_US
dc.subjectTRENDen_US
dc.subjectBrazilen_US
dc.subjectInterest groupsen_US
dc.subjectCongressen_US
dc.subjectCaucusen_US
dc.subjectBancadaen_US
dc.subjectRuralist Benchen_US
dc.subjectBancada Ruralistaen_US
dc.subjectRural blocen_US
dc.subjectRural caucusen_US
dc.subjectAgribusinessen_US
dc.subjectElitesen_US
dc.subjectMixed-methodsen_US
dc.subject.classificationEducation--Social Sciencesen_US
dc.subject.classificationEconomicsen_US
dc.subject.classificationEconomics--Historyen_US
dc.subject.classificationHistory--Latin Americanen_US
dc.subject.classificationPolitical Scienceen_US
dc.subject.classificationPolitical Science--International Law and Relationsen_US
dc.subject.classificationSocial Structure and Developmenten_US
dc.subject.classificationAgricultureen_US
dc.titleWhy Do Mercosur’s Trade Agreements Have Few Environmental Provisions? A Mixed Methods Study of Brazil's Ruralist Lobbyen_US
dc.typemaster thesisen_US
thesis.degree.disciplinePolitical Scienceen_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgaryen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts (MA)en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrueen_US
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