Operation Car Wash (OCW), a milestone in the battle against corruption in Brazil, should not only be seen as a national phenomenon, but also as an International Relations event, which is the main point of this dissertation. First and foremost, this work wants to move away from dichotomic perspectives in its approach to the subject. The OCW needs to be seen as an IR issue. For this purpose, Finnemore and Sikkin s (1998) notion of a cascade of norms is used, and the Lavajatist way of doing IR is brought to light, namely the substantial increase in international legal cooperation (informally). The research issue addressed here is the gap that exists with regard to the approach to OCW in the field of IR. The methodology used is characterized by a critical and reflexive analysis, supported by a broad literature review and consideration of the international interactions resulting from Operation Car Wash. It is emphasized that, as a consequence, the OCW has led to a selective and discretionary relation for IR, as well as facilitated the achievement of US strategic goals for Latin America. In conclusion, the reader will find in the text the concept of a particularist IR based on the revolving door and the accepted (or widely internalized) car wash imaginary of Brazil as an intermediate power. The OCW is relevant as a milestone in anti-corruption, but at the same time there needs to be a balance between the battle against corruption and respect for fundamental rights. Promoting a continuous debate on the implications of such operations on the international scenario is also fundamental in the field of IR.