Paradiplomacia em tempos de crise: a política externa do Consórcio Nordeste na pandemia de Covid-19 (2019-2022)

Abstract

This dissertation is based on the understanding that the Consórcio Nordeste acted as a paradiplomatic entity, establishing relations and an international policy to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this is a case study that analyzes the foreign policy of this northeastern actor during the period from 2019 to 2022, based on the negotiations around the acquisition of health supplies, as well as the performance of its Scientific Committee (C4NE). Putnam's two-level game theory and the conceptual discussion of the term 'paradiplomacy' make up the theoretical framework. The results show that the northeastern organization acted as a sounding board for the WHO, acting as a local representative of the global practices recommended by the health authority. Paradiplomacy was evident, helping the states and municipalities, while the then federal government was not fully involved. The Consortium's foreign policy was also characterized by direct relations with foreign entities and international organizations, such as the company Pulsar and the Gamaleya Institute. These initiatives were carried out in response to the inertia and obstacles imposed by the federal government of the time, which often hindered or delayed the import processes essential for managing the pandemic.