Energia e poder: a inserção estratégica da China no Brasil e na Bolívia no século 21

Abstract

The objective of the research is to comparatively analyze how the energy resources and governance models of Brazil and Bolivia influence China's insertion strategies in these countries in the 21st century. The research adopts as its theoretical basis the approaches of realism/neorealism and liberalism/interdependence, considering that energy can be understood simultaneously as an instrument of power and a vector of international cooperation. Using the method of comparative study, the energy potential of both countries, their regulatory frameworks, and the nature of bilateral relations with China were examined, focusing on the strategies adopted by Beijing to ensure energy security and expand its geopolitical influence in the South Atlantic. Three axes were analyzed: financing and investment instruments, prioritized energy sectors, and the degree of dependence in bilateral relations. It was found that China adopts adaptive strategies according to the institutional and productive contexts of each country: in Brazil, the action occurs predominantly through private investments in a regulated environment; in Bolivia, intergovernmental cooperation prevails in sectors under state control. The research concludes that differences in institutional maturity and governance models condition the effects of Chinese presence on strategic autonomy and the configuration of regional energy governance. The study also reveals that Chinese activity transcends traditional energy resources, encompassing critical minerals for the global energy transition, as evidenced by interest in Bolivian lithium and Brazilian renewable technologies. This dynamic inaugurates a new phase in regional geopolitics, in which the success of Chinese strategies is directly related to the institutional capacities of the recipient countries, highlighting the importance of strengthening national institutions in energy cooperation. Chinese actions reveal a hybrid rationality that combines power and cooperation. This rationality redefines geopolitical dynamics in the South Atlantic based on the competition for strategic resources.