[p2p-research] fakeness of recovery

[Michel Bauwens]

I think the comparison between anglosaxon and iberic colonialism is skewed
by north american success,

- the british colonies outside did not do that spectacularly well,

and

- iberic colonialism was not predicated on the genocide of the natives,
unlike anglo-american colonialism

but of course that very crime created a terra nullius without feudal
impediments to create a commercial state ...

Michel

On Thu, Dec 31, 2009 at 1:22 PM, J. Andrew Rogers
<reality.miner at gmail.com>wrote:

> I have mixed opinion on South America.  Chile is probably doing the
> best job on that continent. Argentina could have been a solid country
> but has taken a strong turn toward basket case and squandering its
> native resources. Brazil is a big country that has always had
> potential but never has really risen above its equilibrium state.
> Venezuela is circling the bowl; while there is some selection bias,
> I've never known a Venezuelan that thought otherwise.  At the same
> time, some of the other countries (Bolivia, Colombia, et al) seem to
> be improving, so there is hope. Like Africa, a lot of raw potential
> but relatively little prospect of execution.
>
> If I had to invest in a single country in South America right now, it
> would be Chile.  For better or worse, they are sane and pragmatic,
> they are taking savvy strategic economic views, and it has served them
> well. A few other countries are making an honest effort as well, which
> gives me hope.
>
> One of the biggest impediments is that South America is basically a
> product of Spanish (and Portuguese) colonialism. There is not much
> that is positive about the legacy of those countries. Even within the
> US, the US states that partially incorporate Spanish common law are
> considered a blight on sane jurisprudence, and the economies of South
> America suffer from having no other significant option. For better or
> worse, the English traditions scattered hither and yon by the British
> empire are the foundations of modern commerce around the globe and for
> good reason; it gave their colonies an advantage.  My experience with
> the Spanish colonial system has actually given me considerable
> appreciation for the legacy of English colonialism. For better or
> worse, English Common Law is one of those rarified historical
> artifacts that stands apart from most of human history as something
> that actually advanced human civilization in a very substantial and
> unintentional way. As evidence of this, most international contracts
> are executed under the jurisdiction of English Common Law even if none
> of the parties are natively subject to it.
>
>
> --
> J. Andrew Rogers
> realityminer.blogspot.com
>



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