When one thinks of South America, there are 12 beautiful countries to choose from. Having said that, when one mentions the nation of Brazil, it often to many people’s eyes and views represents the strongest and most recognizable nation in South America. A country rich in culture and value, Brazil can be recognized for its geography, economy, technology, and its most recent developments that have impacted the rest of the world. Of course, no one can forget the success that Brazil has had on the soccer field, however it is a nation growing in population, strength, and societal development.
When looking at all the dimensions that Brazil has to offer, there are several that can be focused on and discussed. When looking at the impact that Brazil has had on a global scale, I believe that it is important to really focus in on the nation’s economy, technology, and its recent contributions and developments to society. Brazil’s strong economy can be attributed to a multitude of components such as mining, agriculture, and manufacturing. Although this may be the case, I believe that one of Brazil’s finest contributions to the global economy is the impact that it has had on international banking. Home to over 300 different banks, the massive country of Brazil is very well intertwined in its foreign trading policy and stock exchange affairs (Azzoni, 2001). Furthermore, by having Portuguese royalties, Brazil can expand its economic infrastructure and relations within Europe and the rest of the world as well. By having its first national bank in the late 1800’s, Brazil has been solidifying its economic platform and expansion for quite some time (Baer, 2001).
Another key component to the dominance that Brazil has over South America and the world is its abundant access to natural resources. Brazil produces large amounts of timber and different metals that it has been able to take advantage of and profit from on a global export market (Moran, Harris, & Moran, 2012). The important aspect of this that needs to be noted is how Brazil chooses to allocate its funds and income from its resources. Brazil focuses on taking its funding and spending it towards preserving the Amazon and its wildlife, helping pay for education as the nation has a 90% literacy rate, and by working to help its citizens and increase daily quality of life.
Overall, I believe that all of these components that make up Brazil are also important to assess when trying to identify other nations and cultures. Brazil has stabilized its economy as a top 10 economy in the world due to the way that it is governed, and the societal norms that its citizens abide by and uphold. As we further along in this course and continue to read about other nations in the upcoming modules, it will be interesting to look back and see how they compare and contrast to Brazil. South America as a whole has shown rapid growth in all of the facets I have mentioned above within the last decade. I believe as time goes on, there will be more economic growth in South America as other countries will follow suit and take advantage of their resources and social infrastructure.
References
Azzoni, C. Economic growth and regional income inequality in Brazil. Ann Reg Sci 35, 133–152 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001680000038
Baer, W. (2001). The Brazilian economy: Growth and development (5th ed .). Westport, CT: Praeger.
Levine, R. M. & Crocitti, J. J. (1999). The Brazil reader: History, culture, politics. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
Moran, R. T., Harris, P. R., & Moran, S. V. (2014). Managing cultural differences: Leadership skills and strategies for working in a global world. New York: Elsevier.
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