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Yes, so I wanted to state both Russia and the USSR lest anyone thinks I'm singling out the Soviet period for lack of consumer facing technologies. It seems to have a lot to do with the relatively small affluent and educated middle class and merchant class Russia's had relative to some other nations.
Not only that (although this might play the role as well,) but I have an impression that Russians don't have a penchant for creating "finer things in life" when it comes to consumer goods. The way their national character works I suppose, is "unless its' some kind of a masterpiece I am not going to be bothered."
So they've always had very skillful craftsmen among them, (judging by artifacts in Russian museums,) Russian painters are outstanding - among the best in the world, but when it comes to more "mortal things" - Russians en mass don't seem to care enough, mostly relying on Western Europeans for trendsetting and quality goods in this respect.
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I don't understand how it's counted as regurgitation. Mathematical and technological progress was never a strictly western affair, and western europe did not reach arguable levels of trchnological superiority until the late 18th or early 19th century. Meanwhile, before, currently, and in the future, technological knowhow was/is/will be the same as usual where ideas get diffused to parts receptive to them and built upon. If this is all regurgitation, then it has always been regurgitation and certainly the West would have fairly little claim to being the original.
It's "regurgitation" when applied in a sense of a modern world. Of course mathematical ( and technological) progress was not an exclusive domain of European civilization; throughout the history in different periods of it, there were different nations/different societies that represented the "cutting edge" of such progress ( Islamic society including,) but the cradle of the modern world as we know it is undeniably in Europe.
Not only that (although this might play the role as well,) but I have an impression that Russians don't have a penchant for creating "finer things in life" when it comes to consumer goods. The way their national character works I suppose, is "unless its' some kind of a masterpiece I am not going to be bothered."
So they've always had very skillful craftsmen among them, (judging by artifacts in Russian museums,) Russian painters are outstanding - among the best in the world, but when it comes to more "mortal things" - Russians en mass don't seem to care enough, mostly relying on Western Europeans for trendsetting and quality goods in this respect.
It's "regurgitation" when applied in a sense of a modern world. Of course mathematical ( and technological) progress was not an exclusive domain of European civilization; throughout the history in different periods of it, there were different nations/different societies that represented the "cutting edge" of such progress ( Islamic society including,) but the cradle of the modern world as we know it is undeniably in Europe.
Don't really agree with you in terms of the modern age since that's a constantly moving sort of goal post. The history of technology and mathematical development doesn't seem to bear this one out so well as the steps were still gradual and much of the growth was constant regurgitation and then swallowing the vomit over and over again.
Brazil is part of the West.
Really both Brazil and Russia have large economies, but mostly based on commodities. None of these countries have a competitive industry and are minor powers when talking about technology - the opposite of what happens in China.
No. Brazil's economy is far less based off of natural resources than Russia. Brazil and Canada are fairly similar % of economy from natural resources:
No I did not. Where was great Brazilian economy when it has been run by Brazilian companies only?
Actually, I'd ask the same about China - where was the "great tiger" until Americans moved there their technologies?
Thanks but no thanks.
When it comes to slums and inequality...(and I didn't even know about the guns.)
where was the "great tiger"? doesn't it take time for it to develop? destructive events/movements like the Cultural Revolution held back an entire generation of potential scientists, teachers, intellectuals, etc.
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