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

Both Countries populated by Pioneers

• Enabled rich natural resources to be exploited

• Energy– Brazil highly dependent on hydroelectric

power – 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!