Here in Brazil we hardly ever hear of what Americans call "nation building", and I figure that most Brazilians would have a very hard time wrapping their heads around the idea. It is entirely counter-intuitive for us, not in the least because it seems to be based on the idea that sending bombs and troops abroad is supposedly constructive.
American governments are very much a boogeyman of choice for many. They are conveniently foreign and presumably all-powerful. Most Brazilians severely over-estimate the reach and intensity of American influence in our society, perhaps as a defense mechanism against our own lack of basic competence.
Lula, our corrupt ex-president, has recently actually claimed that he "thinks" that his accuser, Judge Sergio Moro, "works for the Americans". He may actually have said "CIA". It is ludicrous and infantile, but it is also a fairly good example of a popular mindset in Brazil.
Sorry, the links are all in Portuguese.
https://www.oantagonista.com/brasil/lula-acusa-moro-de-ser-agente-dos-americanos/
Moro responde defesa de Lula sobre “influência da CIA na Lava-Jato”
'FBI e CIA vêm aqui dar curso e dizer como tem que ser', diz Gleisi Hoffmann
Em entrevista, Lula acusa Moro de ser agente do governo americano
American governments are very much a boogeyman of choice for many. They are conveniently foreign and presumably all-powerful. Most Brazilians severely over-estimate the reach and intensity of American influence in our society, perhaps as a defense mechanism against our own lack of basic competence.
Lula, our corrupt ex-president, has recently actually claimed that he "thinks" that his accuser, Judge Sergio Moro, "works for the Americans". He may actually have said "CIA". It is ludicrous and infantile, but it is also a fairly good example of a popular mindset in Brazil.
Sorry, the links are all in Portuguese.
https://www.oantagonista.com/brasil/lula-acusa-moro-de-ser-agente-dos-americanos/
Moro responde defesa de Lula sobre “influência da CIA na Lava-Jato”
'FBI e CIA vêm aqui dar curso e dizer como tem que ser', diz Gleisi Hoffmann
Em entrevista, Lula acusa Moro de ser agente do governo americano