The 'horizontal cooperation' and the place of Brazil in Latin American scene: The case of Peruvian university students in Brazil

In recent years, Brazil has gained a place on the international scene and has stood out among the developing countries. One of the strategic points thought by the Brazilian government is the consolidation of higher education and scientific research centers in the country. Since the 50's, scientific output stands as an important item on the governmental agenda, understood as a way to create conditions for a more autonomous economic and intellectual development of the nation. In this sense, the international circulation of Brazilian students to complete their undergraduate and graduate studies was a state policy in order to supply the needs of the Brazilian academy training. From 80 years onwards, Brazil also intensified the investment of resources to attract students from the Global South, particularly South America and sub-Saharan Africa, to conduct their formation in undergraduate and graduate levels. Aiming to strengthen ties with other developing countries, policies like this has been called an example of "horizontal cooperation". It brings the idea that the relationship established by Brazil and other countries in the south would be a more egalitarian relationship than that between north and south countries. The goal of this paper is discuss meaning of 'horizontal' in this kind of international cooperation. As a case study, it will be analyzed the migration of Peruvian students to Brazilian universities. For them, Brazil is not a country in which they hoped to study, but they chose it by its the facilities- in the selection process, in receiving grants, etc- the country provides. This kind of south-south migration helps us to reflect on ways of international relation is manipulated by countries and individuals, in a very complex and dynamic manner.