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Zonie63 -> RE: Unrest in Brazil (6/24/2013 11:41:49 AM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: YN
In Brasil the old landed patrones are giving way to the new industrial ruling class, much as occurred in North America or Europe as they industrialized.
I was going to suggest considering the state of the United States ~1880-1900 to obtain an idea of the internal contradictions needing resolution.
Brasil has a growing and growing in powered middle class, is in the process of shifting from an agrarian/resources based economy to an industrial state, has a large number of marginalized rurales and Indians treated as second class citizens in the hinterlands with a progressive and socialist government at the helm attempting to deal with these and other issues.
In this dynamic environment, the government certainly will not please all classes.
During the time of 1880-1900 in the United States, it was a time of labor unrest, violence, land disputes in the Western territories, mining strikes, railroad strikes, industrial sweatshops, racism, bigotry, religious intolerance. But they did get a lot of railroads and factories built, and America's industries boomed. The 1890s were affectionately known as the "Gay 90s." But out of that time came a strong desire and movement towards reform, even though it took decades before anything meaningful took shape - and even today, its legacy remains both within the U.S. and throughout the world.
I'm not sure if this has any relevance or not, but the same period in question was a time when many of America's commonly held patriotic ideals were in their heyday. Nationalism had become more popular in other countries as nations became more self-aware and saw their place on the world stage. I sometimes wonder if the world is heading in that direction again.
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