The Geopolitics of Brazil: An Emergent Power’s Struggle with Geography
John Mauldin
August 11, 2011
Este artículo no está disponible en español. Para su comodidad, aquí está la versión en idioma Inglés.
Just last week in Thoughts from the Frontline, we
discussed the relative valuations of emerging markets. Any discussion of an
emerging market is incomplete without understanding the underlying geopolitical
forces that guide behaviors of countries and often predetermine the outcome of
events.
Today I'm sending you STRATFOR's geopolitical
analysis of Brazil, a much-discussed emerging market. This is a long
read, but it's the most thorough and enlightening analysis I've seen thus far
on how the continent's geography has shaped Brazil's history to date, and the
major challenges the the country faces today. Hint: Brazil's biggest problems
are an overvalued "real," Mercosur, and an Asian giant (you guess
which one...).
For anyone considering an emerging market as an
investment choice (or who is simply interested in world affairs), I highly
recommend reading STRATFOR's other geopolitical assessments, which they have on
all the major players, including emerging markets. You can access these
assessments, and all STRATFOR's analysis and updates, when you subscribe. OTB
readers can <<get a
hefty discount on their subscriptions here>>. Their
content is a valuable asset for any investor.
Your now considering samba lessons
analyst,
John Mauldin, Editor
Outside the Box
JohnMauldin@2000wave.com

The Geopolitics of Brazil: An Emergent Power's Struggle with Geography
July 14,
2011

Editor's
Note: This
is the 15th in a series of STRATFOR monographs on the geopolitics of countries
influential in world affairs.
Related
Special Topic Page
South America is a
geographically challenging land mass. The bulk of its territory is located in
the equatorial zone, making nearly all of the northern two-thirds of its
territory...
Comments
Ed Remmell
Aug. 16, 2011, 5:27 p.m.
Great article! This is the best free information I’ve ever gotten in my in-box.
Evandro Menezes
Aug. 13, 2011, 3:50 p.m.
As a Brazilian, after reading this article, in spite of 3 minor historical errors, I finally understood the Brazilian economic challenges from 10,000ft.
In spite of growing up in Brazil into my adult life, though I had all the information that someone on the ground could get, besides being deep in the maelstrom raising a family to form the whole big picture, I also lacked the economic knowledge that I’ve enriched in the past decade.
I’m happy to say, now that I live in the US and can look at Brazil from the outside, that this article has allowed me to synthesize the geography, history and economics of Brazil in a much more complete view.
PS: all the oxygen produced and the CO2 absorbed in the Amazon is cycled locally.
Jon Anderson
Aug. 12, 2011, 7:01 p.m.
I was thinking a similar thing. What is the “market value” of all of the oxygen that those rainforests are producing, and of all the carbon dioxide they are soaking up?
Thanks, and keep up the excellent work.
Zak Klemmer
Aug. 11, 2011, 9:55 p.m.
America could use a Real Plan, i.e., low inflation, low debt and economic growth. Perhaps we could lend Brazil our Constitution and we could implement their real plan.
david caccia
Aug. 11, 2011, 8:25 p.m.
A very interesting look at Brazil. I find it distressing that you think the Amazon Jungle is a thing to be cleared, a drag on Brazil’s economy. It has been said that a strong economy is worthless without a healthy environment. The Amazon is important to keeping the world climat stable, and Brazil’s climate also. Without the jungle, the area could become a desert, not even good for farming.
David Caccia