Brazil and the World

Hi again.  True to my word, I am posting a second post today and am so very grateful to you for taking the trouble to drop in and read it.

The pattern for this Blog will now be the daily review of one or two news items, Monday to Friday, released late morning and then second posts addressing aspects of Brazilian culture/society on Tuesday and Thursday late afternoons/early evenings; it will dove tail with my other Blog, which will take up Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons.

Our recent discussions about the alleged spying activities of the USA and Canada and about comparative prices between Brazil and elsewhere led me to ponder the question of Brazil and its place in the world....what the world thinks of it and it the rest of the world.

To commence, one cameo of how the rest of the world sees (or saw) Brazil and then an observation of how Brazil views the concerns of the rest of the world.......

About ten years ago, in conversation with my husband, on first meeting him, a quite lovely Welsh lady asked him a cascade of questions but two, in particular, stood out, ''....do you have farms in Brazil....", and, ''....do you have coal in Brazil....''.

This was an educated lady, a retire teacher, but she knew nothing of this huge country in South America.  Into her seventies, it had not been deemed necessary to instruct her on Brazil when she had been a student and she had not deemed it necessary to instruct her students on it during her teaching career....she did, however, know a lot about Brazilian soccer, loved its style and panache and loved Pelé.

Now an observation from the other direction.  On arriving in Brazil, I found that the whole 'war on terror' in which the political West and others were engaged was a matter of complete indifference to almost everyone I met, other than that they would flag up the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as examples of US imperialism and desire for world domination; I paraphrase, but their meaning was quite clear.  Those to whom I spoke were also largely uninformed about what I would call the two world wars 1914-18 and 1940-45.  In fact, in many ways I met the same insular stance that I have experienced in a number of parts of the USA.  In Brazil's case, I shall venture what I think are quite understandable reasons for it and for Brazil's place in the world; as seen by both sides.

Experience of many aspects of Brazil's foreign policy shows us that it has a reciprocal policy in its dealings with others.  When the USA brought in a visa requirement for Brazilians to visit the USA, Brazil responded in kind.  When Spain refused entry to a plane full of Brazilians, including the son a quite senior political figure, Brazil reciprocated in kind.  There are many other examples and, at the risk of over simplifying today´s thoughts, until relatively recently the world seemed to care little for or about Brazil and it responded in kind.  The world felt that it did not need the South American giant as an economic partner or a political ally and Brazil was clear that it didn't need the rest of the world's involvement in its affairs.  International  politics is determined by national interest and few saw much to be gained from close engagement with Brazil, a view largely mirrored by Brazil.  Indeed, while you would find that Brazilians, as individuals, would aspire to visit Europe (usually the UK) and the USA and would (grudgingly) have comparisons with both as the ultimate measures of style and class, as the Brazilian people they would be highly critical and disparaging of the UK and US, pouring scorn on their attempts to engage with and influence other world actors; at least, up here in the NE.

Brazil is a young nation and very young democracy.  As a result, it s national identity is worn o its sleeve, is very 'in your face', as is common with young nations, such as the USA, and with nations whose place in the world is ambiguous or contested; as we find in my nation, Wales, and Scotland.  In fact, one might also venture parallels between Brazil and Wales, or Scotland in what I suggest is another factor that contributed to the previously insular stance of Brazil and the sometimes palpable animosity one can still find expressed toward the USA by people on the streets.  For Wales, England is the 'big dog' on the block....and one that sought to deny Wales the right to exist in the Act of Union and Annexation in 1536 (when I was but young).  In Brazil's case, the USA is the big dog on the American block and a dog which until very recently appeared to give not a damn for their large South American cousin; as seen by the people here.  Brazil does not readily forgive or forget a slight and does not like pomposity or arrogance.  Many of its people place all such charges at the door of the USA, primarily, and most of the 'old powers' of Europe.  There is a certain resentment borne by some toward them, particularly the USA.  As a result, the country was able to tell itself that it was perfectly happy to exist in something of its own vacuum until this millennium.

Now, of course, things have already changed at the international economic level and the rest may follow.  Brazil is one of the BRIC states, is (or was until very recently) a booming and still growing economy offering new markets, new deposits of natural resources and new wealth opportunities.  Suddenly, there was national interest to be served by developing closer ties with Brazil....and the USA and UK were quick off the mark.  Inward investment projects increased in number from 165 in 2007 to 507 in 2011 and in value from $19Bn in 2007 to $63Bn in 2011.  Of those who seemed to be clamouring to get firm footholds in the new Brazil, and keep others out, the USA led the way with projects worth $12.4Bn and the UK next in line with a value of $12.2Bn.  [note, all preceding investment figures from Ernst and Young].  Having moved here in 2007, I also noted an indicator of sorts during the ensuing years in the fact that flights between Brazil and the USA initially had plenty of space in Business Class but would be pretty full in Economy, whereas by about 2011 it was Business and First Class that would fill up long before Economy; reflecting the changed nature of North/South, South/North traveller and relations.  We should also note that the USA and Canada see Brazil as sufficiently relevant to their national interests to undertake significant electronic gathering against them, spying; and, as I mentioned in previous posts, there is actually a back handed compliment in such nefarious undertakings as it means those engaged in the spying actually care about what the target is thinking and doing.

With economic relevance and economic muscle, of course, came the potential for increasing political influence.  In the latter years of President Lula da Silva's administrations and during the current administration of President Dilma Rousseff we have seen Brazil being looked to to take a position on this issue or that and, indeed, itself seeking to engage in major international issues; though with by no means universal support at home for this changing world role.  We also have the soccer World Cup in Brazil next year and the Olympics two years thereafter; the first time a South American venue has hosted the Games.  The world is changing the way it sees Brazil and Brazil has changed the way it views the rest of the world....though there is a lag in that being evident in the perceptions of individuals up here in the NE.  That said, PLEASE don´t think that anyone is less than cordially received here.  The perceptions of individuals and feelings of resentment etc, where they exist, are borne toward the USA as a country and not against individual Americans (I found the same when I visited Australia in 1982, where people were often quite anti the UK but just loved to receive visiting Brits, or POMs).

So, sufficient for today and thanks a million to you for bothering to drop in and join the conversation.  I am most grateful.

The usual late morning post tomorrow (my time) touching on one or two news items.  I hope you will consider dropping in to catch it.

Stay safe.

Dave