| bangalangadanga |
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...or has the potential to become one? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potential_superpowers just heard they have a ton of oil off their coast too. should be interesting to see them become the new 'enemy' in 20 years. |
| Learn.d_Astronomer |
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If the current dynamics of the Americas holds, they are more likely to become the new "West Germany." Most of Central and South America is gradually distancing itself from the US and in some cases more closely aligning itself with the likes of Chavez in Venezuela. However, Brazil, being of Portuguese roots as opposed to Spanish, already sees itself as different than the rest of the continent, and the feeling is mutual. A closer alliance with Brazil would see the US maintain its influence in the Western Hemisphere far longer than direct opposition to Brazil would do. But, yes, Brazil is on its way up. However, if they do not solve their favelas problem, they will stop themselves before they can progress to a full-fledged power. |
| Oba! |
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Their nuts are weapons of mass destruction. |
| nuts |
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If 5 countries and the EU all become superpowers then won't being a superpower not really be that big of a deal. It will be like running a 9 minute two mile in high school... remember when that used to mean something? |
| umm drum |
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Aside from their succesful economy, and the fact they've been the B in BRIC for a while, surely, when you think about it, any country with a large population is a potential superpower? |
| ryan foreman |
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Joaquim Cruz was a WMD. |
| Marauder44 |
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There is a qoute about Brazil and it goes something like this: "Brazil is the country of the future and it always will be." Brazil seemingly has been ready to take a larger role on the world stage for decades but it seems like something always got in its way. The Information age with its technological advances and the rich resources Brazil has may mean that it will truly emerge on the world stage. If the U.S. is not foolish we will embrace this and grow a partnership that is mutually beneficial. Brazil and the other larger South American countries know they have to watch the growing influence of China in S. America or remain 2nd tier states. |
| watchout |
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As long as they also have a significant amount of natural resources. IMO Brazil has the greatest potential of any of the American countries outside of the USA. Probably not as high potential as China or the EU (IF the EU climbs out of their economic mess), but on par with India and Russia. But Brazil still has a LOT of work to do to even get close... I'd call them the sixth greatest power (lumping all of the EU together) at the moment, with the potential to surpass India and the EU in the next couple of decades (if the EU doesn't fix their economic problems). Russia I think will still be a little stronger for the next few decades... but that's just my opinion :) |
| ryan foreman |
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Its hilarious how none of you in this thread know what the hell you are talking about. Because nobody even knows what a "superpower" is. Its just some made up word that some person created decades ago and even then the definition was vague. Nowadays out of control egos in the media make up their own meaning. Any agreed upon definition is so vague as to be meaningless. |
| watchout |
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Superpower: A nation strong enough to significantly influence the rest of the world through use of it's economic, political/diplomatic, and military strength. (without being strong - on a global level - in any of those three categories, I wouldn't consider a nation a superpower because it can be the one that gets "pushed around") I think that's pretty close to what others would say as well.. How do you define the term? |
| Chipotler |
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I agree, in which case I'd say the US is the only one at the moment. But its stock has certainly been falling, and while China isn't really on that level yet, it absolutely has the potential to get their in the not so distant future. |
| LookyLooky |
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Yes. Haven't you seen their women folk. |
| categorically |
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I actually think Brazil has much greater potential than China or India because they have natural resources sufficient to sustain their population. China is already at 1.3 billion and will reach ~2 billion before leveling off. Currently there are ~600 million agricultural workers (i.e. poor) in rural China. That's almost half of China's population and 1/10th of the global population! In 1870 70-80% of the US population worked in agriculture. Now that is down to 2-3%. The US population in 1870 was less than 40 million so the transition away from agriculture to manufacturing and other sectors was easier and more gradual. China would have to create at least half a billion non-agriculture jobs to lift that sector out of poverty. Even then, who is going to grow all of the food? India? Africa? Where is all the energy going to come from? Coal alone? China may be a superpower but they will always be weighed down by massive population and the inability to bring a large sector of them to a reasonable standard of living. Brazil on the other hand has a population under 200 million. They have a ton of oil, minerals, arable land, etc. They have a serious problem with income inequality and a tax system that stifles innovation and investment. But these problems are tenable. They already have aggressive social programs to address poverty. The middle class is growing rapidly and they are making huge investments in infrastructure. I could actually see a majority of Brazil's population with a middle class standard of living within 50 years - something that just isn't possible in China. Brazil is already a regional superpower - they dominate South America economically and politically - and it is when on its way to being a global power as well. |