USA and Brazil: global role dynamic areas• Text: 2 Americas Brazil vs. USA• Video: Brazil’s Rising Star 60 minutes

1. Strong insertion in the global economy

• Brazil and the U.S. are two major agricultural and industrial powers– Except Vale and Petrobras, few Brazilian

firms compete against American ones– US firms dominate on the world stage: • Agro-food business (Cargill, Kraft Foods), • IT (Microsoft, IMB, Apple), • petroleum (Exxon, Mobil), • pharmaceutical (Pfizer)

Both countries possess a vast domestic market which stimulates the service sector

Unbeatable superiority of US firms in several industries:• insurance (AIG)• retail (Walmart)• entertainment (Time Warner, Walt Disney)

Rapidly evolving economic sectors in Brazil •rising standard of living •emergence of a strong middle class

Brazilian Growth is much more sustained than the U.S.’

• Mostly due to flows of FDI– 1st trade partner with Brazil is China– 1st foreign investor = China • $30 B in 2010 vs 5 B in the U.S.

• Despite this, Brazil ranks only 21st as global exporter of merchandise

2. Political-military influence very unbalanced

• American power based on an enormous military-industrial complex– Largest military budget in world ($600 B/yr)– U.S. Military force twice the size of Brazil’s– Global military deployment by the U.S.

• Plays the role of the world police• Often denounced as imperialistic

Brazilian political cartoonist: Latuff 2011Title: Obama arrives in RioBubble: Where’s the petroleum?

Brazil’s Political Weight is largely inferior to the U.S.

• Brazil’s diplomatic influence on the world stage remains very low– Despite Brazil’s recent extension of its

embassies network – Despite sending the largest contingent

of UN peacekeeping forces to Haiti

Brazil is self-proclaimed political spokesperson of the South

• Former president Lula activated his South-South solidarity with emerging and Portuguese-speaking countries

• WTO: Lula criticized protectionism of Northern countries

• Brazil has evolved from net receiver of development aid to net giver– BUT Brazilian aid remains much inferior to that of the

U.S.

Cultural Americanization (Soft Power)

• US has initiated cultural models which are spread worldwide–Malls, fast-food, mainstream culture

(cinema, TV series, social media) characterize the American model of mass consumption

– Based on the “American dream”, the American way of Life attracts the largest immigrant population in the world

Brazil unable to rival U.S. cultural domination

• Brazil great producers of TV series exported in more than 130 countries (primarily Eastern Europe and Middle East)

• Brazilian culture has reduced impact due to lack of Portuguese speakers on world stage

Cultural hegemony of Brazil is more regional than global

• Main media group in Latin America : Globo– Television, cinema, press

• Brazil’s ambitions are planetary - organizing international sporting events – Football World Cup in 2014 – The Olympic Games in 2016 (Rio de Janeiro)

5. U.S., Brazil: Territories which reflect their power

A. 2 immense territories but unequally controlled– Surface area of US 9.8 million km²– Surface area of Brazil 8.5 million km²– 15-17 times the size of metropolitan France– Major challenge: transportation networks• New York & Sao Paulo highest rail traffic in world• Brazil: air traffic more than doubled from 2004

to 2010 but planes used less often than U.S. despite long distances

Other Aspects in Common• Both Countries populated by Pioneers• Highly religious culture but little religious

conflict• Rich natural resources exploited• Energy– Brazil highly dependent on hydroelectric power –

80%– Brazil developing wind energy + biofuels– Thanks to recent oil reserves discovered offshore,

Brazil is self-sufficient in petroleum unlike the U.S.

Risk Management less effective in Brazil than the U.S.

• Brazilians vulnerable to tropic storms– Flooding killed a thousand people near

Rio in 2011– Southeast of the US is particularly

exposed to cyclones, tornadoes and flooding by the Mississippi

Homework

• For all those who have not done their “croquis” of the U.S., it was due on April 2nd.

• All late “croquis” will have 2 points taken off.• No “croquis” will be accepted after April 9th.• Review all your notes/reading for April 9th in

preparation for a N/S America Quiz Game• Your BAC Blanc may have a question on

North/South America!