Saturday, July 01, 2017
Constants and variables 76, non-interventionist edition
Continuing the Brazil comparison.
Constants: USA and Brazil are similar in size, occupying most of a continent. Both are blessed with plentiful resources and a mix of innate talents. Brazil is unique, owning ALL the resources needed in the modern world, and exploiting them well. It doesn't need to import anything.
Dependent variable: USA is collapsing and Brazil is growing. What's the main driving variable? What's the secret ingredient?
Part of Brazil's success comes from what Brazil DOESN'T do.
Brazil doesn't start wars.
From the exact beginning:
In the Portuguese colony Dom Pedro I (also Pedro IV of Portugal), son of the Portuguese king Dom João VI, proclaimed the country's independence in 1822 and became Brazil's first Emperor. This was generally peacefully accepted by the crown in Portugal, although some guerrillas were fought between Portuguese troops and civilians. Portugal recognized Brazil's independence 3 years later upon compensation.Independence without a revolution. Smooth analog gliding departure. After independence, the other parts of South America were fighting for their independence from Spain, and several of those fights spilled over into Brazilian territory. Brazil pushed them back. In later years a number of attempted rebellions and secessions were also pushed back. But the main variable held true. Brazil never STARTED these wars. Brazil has participated commercially in the big crazy wars of the North. When Japan closed off our sources of tropical stuff from Indonesia, Brazil stepped up to supply the stuff at a nice profit. Brazil's soldiers fought briefly on the Italian front in WW2. Not pacifist by any means; always ready to fight when forced; but never starting the fight. By contrast, USA STRONG has been starting wars most of the time. Only FDR acted like Brazil.
Labels: Constants and Variables
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