Brazil on the Rise!

If you want an all encompassing rich introduction to Brazil, here is a book by Larry Rohter  - Brazil on the Rise! He makes the nation come alive. The book is engrossing and divergent – at one moment you are experiencing Rio de Janeiro, Jazz music, samba and soccer and another you are deep in the forests of Amazon. Even if you are well aware of the country’s history and politics, Rohter brings a different perspective – of how the political personalities are seen by the Brazilians themselves. Insightful and rich, the book reflects the author’s long experience of living and traveling there and I was not surprised to read that his wife is from Brazil too. So if Brazil interests you, you must read this book and if it doesn’t interest you, then you definitely must.

But, but...this is not a book review! I was cruising through the book, enjoying and learning and then I came to this section on Brazil’s foreign policy and it got me. I have a lot of unanswered questions and comments, so let me share them with you.  

Brazilians are thrilled, even flattered, to be grouped with Russia, India and China..... instead of being lumped together with the likes of Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela.

Hmm...and that is better because...?

Instead of being a part of the Third World, there is excitement around “South-South solidarity” meant to bring Brazil, China and South Africa into a single group.

Yes.. and not to forget South Africa!  

 “The image of Brazil as the land of soccer and samba, of beaches and beauties in bikinis.. both irks and embarrasses them”

And the problem with that is...?

In the early 1960s, Charles de Gaulle seems to have said that “Brazil is not a serious country”.. the remark has stung them so badly, deeply wounding their self image.

And the problem with being a fun country is...?

In 1982, Ronald Reagan offered a toast at a state dinner in Brasilia to “the people of Bolivia”, it really hurt them.

And what were you expecting from the president of Armenia...?

Brazil has a sense of being exceptional, a feeling of living in a nation blessed by God, with a unique historical role to play... some sort of manifest destiny.

Interesting

United States has, since its earliest days, been engaged in an ongoing effort to keep Brazil from achieving the greatness that otherwise would be its destiny.

I didn’t see this coming. And here I thought only the Middle East had this problem.

Of the four countries that comprise the BRIC group, Brazil is the only one that does not have the atomic bomb which rankles them. Incidentally, Brazil does not have any enemies or any kind of threat.

And atomic bomb has become what nowadays .. a status symbol?

And President Lula seems to have complained that “It is not fair that developed countries, who have nuclear weapons technology, demand that others not have them”

Innocent

“We are left holding a slingshot while they have atomic bombs”

Lol

Brazil’s foreign relations are guided by the main principle to simply minimize conflict and avoid making enemies whenever possible.

Henry Kissinger (US secretary of state in the 1970s) to Brazil – you need a foreign policy.

No comments

In order to overcome its laid back image, Brazil intervened in Haiti and is baffled by the mess it is embroiled in and learning how difficult it is to grapple with international crisis.

Oh, don’t take it so hard on yourself; that is the result of all international interventions. Here are the two equations that explain it:

Scenario 1:

Civil Faction 1 vs. CF 2 vs. CF 3..... = Right Royal Mess

All civil factions blame each other.

Scenario 2:

CF 1 vs. CF2 vs. CF3 .... + International Intervention  = Right Royal Mess

All the blame goes to the Intervening Powers.

Now here is an interesting piece of information I did not know about Dilma Rousseff, the incumbent President of Brazil.

She was involved in organizing a heist in 1969 which involved a robbery of about $2.5 million from the safe of a corrupt dictator.

Wow (I thought she looked like a boring banker sort of a person)

The heist was successful

Wow wow wow.

She has denied her involvement in it..

What???

Come on, how many heads of states can claim to have orchestrated heists? You got to own it. I mean it is not easy. If I thought of robbing a bank, it would be pretty hard, esp. these days – I mean with all this electronic transactions stuff, I don’t even know where they keep the money anymore.

Now here is the best part.

Brazil has harmonious relationships with its neighbors and in general the world. Its diplomats are among the best. It has a vibrant environment and despite racial heterogeneity, has little racial tensions. It has experienced an economic boom and yet it does not have an atomic bomb and has not generally gone around invading other countries. Therefore its perception is that of a diplomatic dwarf lacking in global leadership.

I don’t get it.

Well, don’t let my blog mislead you. The book is a serious one, rich in information and interesting with not a dull moment in it. 

Recommended!