- It’s Portuguese heritage
- It’s ability to remain united – rather than splinter into numerous squabbling territories, as happened with the Spanish empire
- It’s sheer size – population, economy, territory is as large as that of all the other South American countries put together.
So the differences between Brazil and the rest of the Latin American nations are obvious. However, it would be impossible to see Brazil as anything else but an integral part of any study of Latin America? Well so we thought... Leslie Bethell of Oxford University gave a talk the other week at the Institute for the Study of the Americas entitled “Is Brazil part of Latin America?” Well he would say that given that he was director of the Centre for Brazilian Studies - when it is normally commonplace just to lump Brazil in under Latin America.
Simon Bolivar was supposed to be the great instigator for Latin American unity, However his grand vision had nothing to do with Latin American unity as we know it, but rather of a confederación hispanoamericana – a Hispanic confederation that excluded Brazil. Brazil was not Hispanic and seen as intrinsically different from the rest of the Americas:
Simon Bolivar was supposed to be the great instigator for Latin American unity, However his grand vision had nothing to do with Latin American unity as we know it, but rather of a confederación hispanoamericana – a Hispanic confederation that excluded Brazil. Brazil was not Hispanic and seen as intrinsically different from the rest of the Americas:
- It wasn’t a republic, but a monarchy
- It still permitted slavery
- It has closer ties with Europe, something the new Hispanic American republics were at pains to distance themselves from.
Not that Brazil really cared about not being part of this Hispanic American club. It’s Portuguese heritage meant that it was naturally imbued with a hostile attitude towards anything related to Spain. This along with a sense of superiority meant that Brazilians were quite happy to be excluded.
In the late 19th century, with the dreams of a unified Hispanic Americas long gone, the notion of Latin America did grow as an idea, especially amongst Latin American intellectuals. They sought to focus on the similarities across the Latin American continent as a counterweight to the increasing dominance and interventionism of the US and its of ides of American (North + South) unity through the a US-led Panamericansim.
However well up into the 20th century Brazil was still seen as a non-integral part of Latin America. In an era of fervent anti-Americanism in Latin America, Brazil persistently remained less critical of the US and was of the US’s more reliable allies. Furthermore Brazil continued to perceive itself unique and indeed superior from the rest of Latin America.
Arguably Leslie Bethall had indeed made a persuasive historical argument as to how Brazil had differentiated itself from the rest of Latin America. However he continued to argue that still today Brazil is markedly different from the rest of Latin America, is still perceived so by Brazilians themselves and that it ultimately deserves to be studied as a completely different entity in exclusion from Latin America. I think this was the point at which most people in the audience would have started to take issue with him.
The interconnectedness of Latin American countries – Brazil included – is plain to see. Brazil borders almost all South American nations, and in today’s world can’t not be influenced, culturally, economically, politically by the rest of Latin America and vice versa. Aside from a difference in language, there is no doubt in my mind, that Brazil is an integral part of Latin America. Yes there are many things which are unique to Brazil, and yes Brazilians will no doubt from time to time see themselves as unique and superior to the rest of the neighbours. But you need just to take a trip over the river Plate to realize that the Argentineans are just as capable, if not more so, in espousing a sense of difference and a superiority with the rest of the continent. Brazil’s leadership in MERCOSUR and the recently unveiled Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) only highlights its attempt to place itself, if not at the centre of Latin America, then at least South America – Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean already seem locked into the US sphere of dominance.
In the late 19th century, with the dreams of a unified Hispanic Americas long gone, the notion of Latin America did grow as an idea, especially amongst Latin American intellectuals. They sought to focus on the similarities across the Latin American continent as a counterweight to the increasing dominance and interventionism of the US and its of ides of American (North + South) unity through the a US-led Panamericansim.
However well up into the 20th century Brazil was still seen as a non-integral part of Latin America. In an era of fervent anti-Americanism in Latin America, Brazil persistently remained less critical of the US and was of the US’s more reliable allies. Furthermore Brazil continued to perceive itself unique and indeed superior from the rest of Latin America.
Arguably Leslie Bethall had indeed made a persuasive historical argument as to how Brazil had differentiated itself from the rest of Latin America. However he continued to argue that still today Brazil is markedly different from the rest of Latin America, is still perceived so by Brazilians themselves and that it ultimately deserves to be studied as a completely different entity in exclusion from Latin America. I think this was the point at which most people in the audience would have started to take issue with him.
The interconnectedness of Latin American countries – Brazil included – is plain to see. Brazil borders almost all South American nations, and in today’s world can’t not be influenced, culturally, economically, politically by the rest of Latin America and vice versa. Aside from a difference in language, there is no doubt in my mind, that Brazil is an integral part of Latin America. Yes there are many things which are unique to Brazil, and yes Brazilians will no doubt from time to time see themselves as unique and superior to the rest of the neighbours. But you need just to take a trip over the river Plate to realize that the Argentineans are just as capable, if not more so, in espousing a sense of difference and a superiority with the rest of the continent. Brazil’s leadership in MERCOSUR and the recently unveiled Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) only highlights its attempt to place itself, if not at the centre of Latin America, then at least South America – Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean already seem locked into the US sphere of dominance.
Critics may well turn around and say – and Leslie Bethall would be one of them – that Brazilian leadership is not much wanted amongst South American nations, who view these attempts of regional unity with Brazil at their helm as merely a means to help Brazil to propel itself onto the world stage…
This has been quote a long post…thank you if you’ve managed to get this far. I’ll finish with a few comments by former Brazilian President on this very issue - “Brazil: A Latin American Nation?” - that seem to underscore my point of view as well.
Despite differing colonial histories, languages and state institutions, Brazil does indeed share a relation with Latin America. […] Along with some cultural, geographical, and ideological traits, Brazil and other Latin American nations share a position on the “periphery” of the modern globalized world. […] We belong to Latin America […] We feel at ease in Latin America. (The Washington Institute for International Studies, 14/03/2007)
28 comments:
Hi, amigo! I'm doing an argumentative paper about this issue.
Do you have any other sources about the subject? Can you direct me to some of them? Thanks!
интимные истории из жизни лесбиянок
в [url=http://goooogl]Gooogle[/url] сайты интим и секс знакомств города казани
личные интимные фото пaрней
I must claim that the engineering driving BowFlex TreadClimber can transform the course of how we outline
training.
Also visit my site :: bowflex selecttech 552 adjustable dumbbells
You may also select the scaled-down Bowflex SelectTech 552 dumbbells that
will change approximately 52.
Feel free to visit my web page - www.getfitnstrong.com
The use of dumbbells will add resistance, and this placement need
to be held for the couple seconds in advance of a beginning
place really should be received.
My site bowflex for sale
Stand up whilst keeping a set of dumbbells and cautiously lean more than within the waist until your back
again is parrell together with the floor.
My web page :: bowflex dumbbells 552
Some people today are just effortlessly morning people
today.
Also visit my web blog - Skip Navigation
A one-a-day multivitamin, a calcium/vitamin D pill, a fish-oil tablet, and green tea extract may help
you shed pounds with no adverse unwanted effects.
Feel free to visit my webpage; Personal Site
Most house health club equipment falls into two important groups,
the very first getting residence gyms that use rods or bars to develop resistance,
as well as the 2nd getting power instruction devices that utilize a excess weight
stack or plates.
Also visit my blog post adjustable weights
Initially, you might want to know the kind of dumbbell that you might want
to get.
Feel free to visit my blog post ... Recommended Browsing
It does use a foldaway attribute, but it does need a
honest quantity of power.
Here is my webpage: SITEMAP
I understand soy and whey are the "in vogue" dietary supplements for human body builders.
Look at my web page; primary
You actually should adopt a nutritious general life-style if you need to eliminate
the weight and of equivalent benefits - keep it off when you reduce
it!
Look into my blog; free weights for sale used
By means of time, I began to gain muscle mass; hence I'm equipped to carry heavier weights.
Feel free to surf to my weblog; Top
google law firm
Hi there! This blog post could not be written much better!
Going through this post reminds me of my previous roommate!
He continually kept preaching about this. I am going to send this article to
him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. I appreciate
you for sharing!
Feel free to visit my webpage vakantiehuizen
My coder is trying to persuade me to move to .net from PHP.
I have always disliked the idea because of the expenses.
But he's tryiong none the less. I've been using Movable-type
on a number of websites for about a year and am anxious
about switching to another platform. I have heard fantastic things about blogengine.
net. Is there a way I can import all my wordpress content into it?
Any help would be really appreciated!
Here is my webpage ... mp3 player mit touchscreen
The seat can slide on a rail and enables you to burn calories
to be able to obtain as part of your aerobic education.
my site; dumbbell sets
We're a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your site provided us with valuable information to work on. You've
done an impressive job and our whole community will
be grateful to you.
my homepage; luxe vakantiehuisjes frankrijk
Just in case you should wish to be genuinely committed to and consistent with your daily workout instead of overlook on your going for walks
courses, you'd be clever to take a position in the home gym treadmill in order that there aren't any excuses about the
climate or highway circumstances to prevent you walking or functioning.
Also visit my web site click through the next website page
I can see why he'd do well to be a coach.
my blog; adjustable dumbbell set
I always spent my half an hour to read this website's articles daily along with a mug of coffee.
My blog post :: übersetzungen kostenlos
Ιt’s nearly impoѕѕible to find knowlеdgeable peoplе about thiѕ topiс, but
you sound liκe you know what yοu’гe talking about!
Thanκѕ
Αlsο vіsit mу blοg :: organiс potting sοil
:: http://dontbesilenced.net/ ::
Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your site and in accession capital to assert that I get actually
enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I will be subscribing to your augment and even I achievement you
access consistently quickly.
Review my homepage - solar brunnenpumpen
It’s hard to fіnԁ еxperienced реople foг
thiѕ topic, hоwevег, уou sοund like
yοu know what you’re tаlκing abοut!
Thanκs
Ϻу weblog gardening
Ηi there! This blоg poѕt couldn’t
be writtеn any betteг! Reading through this article reminԁs me
of my ρreνious roοmmate! He alwаys κерt ρreachіng about this.
I will forward this information tо him.
Pгetty sure he’s goіng to haνe a
great reаd. Thank you for sharing!
Hеre is my ѕіte - organic potting soil
It's really very difficult in this busy life to listen news on Television, thus I just use world wide web for that reason, and take the most recent news.
great points altogether, you just won a new reader. What may you suggest about your post that you just made some days ago? Any sure?
Post a Comment