Brazil: A Country of the Future?

In this episode, Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg talk about why Brazil hasn't lived up to its expectations as a global powerhouse. Despite having immense natural resources, a large population, and a favorable geographic position, Brazil's industrialization has been stymied by high crime rates, severe corruption, and political dysfunction. They dig into Brazil's missed opportunities for industrialization and modernization, comparing its circumstances with other countries like China, Japan, and those in Africa and Latin America.  

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This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

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LINKS:

The Roots of Brazil’s Long Stagnation - https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/p/the-roots-of-brazils-long-stagnation

Popular social media network in Brazil - Orkut

FOLLOW US ON X:

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@samoburja (Samo)

@turpentinemedia (Turpentine)

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(00:28) Brazil: A Country of Untapped Potential

(00:51) Historical Context and Geopolitical Fundamentals

(03:36) The Need for Industrialization

(04:29) Corruption and Political Dysfunction

(09:48) The Impact of Aging Demographics

(13:30) Imagining Alternative Histories for Brazil

(17:12) SPONSORS: Babbel | beehiiv

(26:16) The BRICS Illusion

(27:35) The Future of Brazil's Government

(28:17) Technocratic Possibilities and Challenges

(29:40) Imitating Western Governments without Understanding Functionality

(30:30) Comparing Brazil to Other Nations

(31:50) SPONSOR: Brave

(37:35) Lessons for Other Countries

(37:47) Imitating Western Governments

(49:28) Brazil's Potential as a Superpower

(51:49) Comparing Brazil to Other LatAm Countries

(54:12) The Bull and Bear Case for Brazil

(56:44) Wrap