For an inclusive foreign policy: dialogue with Fabricio Prado on racial equality.

Abstract

This interview with diplomat Fabrício Prado, conducted by the Tutorial Education Program of Social Sciences at the University of Brasília (PET/SOL), addresses the complexity of racial representation in the Itamaraty, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The aim of the conversation is to shed light on the challenges and possibilities for the inclusion of Black, quilombola, and Indigenous peoples in Brazilian diplomacy, based on the interviewee’s experience and insights. Throughout the dialogue, Prado highlights the disparity between Brazil’s racially diverse population and the underrepresentation of Black individuals in the diplomatic corps, questioning the impact of this gap on the legitimacy of the country’s foreign policy. The interview is guided by questions prepared by Social Sciences students, with a focus on racial equality, public policy, and affirmative action. Key concepts discussed include representation, institutional diversity, and race relations in Brazil. As a contribution, the interview reveals both the progress and the limitations of the Brazilian state's efforts to promote racial equity, particularly in the sphere of foreign policy. Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of a more plural diplomatic corps as a tool for internal transformation and for projecting an international image more aligned with the country’s social reality.