Variations in the profile of those entering the Brazilian diplomatic career

Abstract

The profile of diplomats entering the Itamaraty was investigated by previous works, such as Cheibub (1989) and Lima and Oliveira (2018), but, at the beginning of this century, relevant changes occurred in the selection process and the institution of quotas for blacks (black and brown) in competitions. Therefore, the objective of this study is to analyze whether there have been changes in the profile of new diplomats. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) requested data relating to those inducted into the career between 2011 and 2024. The results demonstrated a strong increase in black entrants. Previous estimates did not even indicate 3% and, among those who recently joined, more than 26% declared themselves black or mixed race. The city with the most births is Rio de Janeiro, but what is new is the high number of people born in Belo Horizonte - four times higher than in northeastern capitals of the same size. Regionally, only 1% of entrants were born in the North. In educational terms, the most common combination of course and university is International Relations at the University of Brasília (UnB), an institution that only graduated fewer new inductees than the University of São Paulo (USP). International Relations is the graduation of 31% of the entrants analyzed and, as it has expanded across the country only in the last 30 years, it seems to threaten the historical leadership of Law, highlighted by the literature. The average age rose to 29 years old and female participation continues on an upward trend - 28% of new entrants.