On March 11, the Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI) and the Brazilian Center of Analysis and Planning (CEBRAP) convened a discussion with experts on Brazilian society’s perception of one of the most polarizing international conflicts: the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The event marked the launch of a study conducted by CEBRAP, which seeks to answer the question: what do Brazilians think about the Israel-Palestine conflict? The report analyzes Brazilian public opinion on various aspects of the dispute, addressing the contemporary conflict between both sides and the historical and structural factors underpinning it.
The study examines this perception based on data collected from recent opinion polls conducted by CEBRAP and compares different periods to identify patterns and shifts in respondents' support. The report seeks to enhance the discussion on how public opinion influences international policy formulation.
Among the findings presented, the report highlights that any foreign policy decision-maker in Brazil will struggle to formulate a position on the conflict that garners majority approval, as Brazilians are deeply divided on the issue. Feliciano de Sá Guimarães, Academic Director at CEBRI and Professor at the Institute of International Relations at USP pointed out that "regarding the Brazilian government's stance on the Israel-Palestine issue, it is increasingly difficult for any Brazilian government, whether right or left-wing, to establish a position on the conflict without facing opposition from the majority of the population. [...] This underscores how the polarization of international issues complicates the formulation and implementation of foreign policy, which has become even more pressing since Brazil's democratic transition."
The event also featured Monique Sochaczewski, Ph.D., Senior Fellow at CEBRI and Professor at IDP, Ivan Filipe Almeida Lopes Fernandes, Researcher at Cebrap and Professor at the Federal University of ABC (UFABC), and Natalia Nahas C. M. Calfat, President of the Institute of Arab Culture.
The report is available HERE.
