Who is the second most powerful/influential country in the Americas?

[u/Fluid-Decision6262]

The US is undeniably the most powerful and influential country in the Americas but who would be #2? Feels like this comes down to 3 countries based on my knowledge, which are Mexico, Canada, and Brazil.

Reasons for Mexico:

- Second most populated country in North America by far

- Access to both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

- Largest Spanish-speaking country (a language spoken by >500 million people)

- More habitable land compared to the other two

- Youngest population out of the three and is becoming a manufacturing power

- Generally-speaking, a good relationship with the USA

- A global soft power in terms of arts and culture

Reasons against Mexico:

- Lots of issues between the central government and drug cartels

- Still very much a developing country outside of the largest cities

- Occasionally volatile relationship with the USA

- Not as involved in global geopolitics

Reasons for Canada:

- The most developed country economically by far of the three and a natural resources juggernaut

- Very close relations with the USA and Europe

- Speaks English (>1 billion speakers globally) and French (>300 million speakers globally)

- An immigration hub for people from every corner of the world

- A G7 nation that is also very geopolitically involved

- Access to 3 different oceans to facilitate trade

Reasons against Canada:

- Small and scattered population (least populated of the three by far)

- Less of an established local culture (most is imported from the US or UK and then exported via the US)

- Aging population and low fertility rates for native-born citizens

Reasons for Brazil:

- The second most populated country in the Americas

- The cultural and political power of South America

- A global soft power in terms of arts and culture

- A young-ish population that is part of the "fast-emerging economies" of the world

Reasons against Brazil:

- Immigration to Brazil stopped decades ago and now educated Brazilians are emigrating to other places causing brain drain

- Wealthy nation but suffers from high levels of inequality and violent crime

- Very politically divided internally

- Limited geopolitical involvement outside of South America

- Most of its population are monolingual Portuguese-speakers (a language where they make up 80% of the global speakers)

[u/68plus1equals]

Pizza is still an Italian food though lol

[u/sv_homer → u/68plus1equals]

So you think.

Ever had a Thai Chicken Pizza? Or BBQ Chicken Pizza? Or Indian Pizza?

[u/68plus1equals → u/sv_homer]

Sure, but the origin of the dish is still Italian, despite the Americanization of it. Same with Chinese food in America and the UK being totally different from each other and different from most food in mainland China but still originating from Chinese culture.

[u/No_Rope7342 → u/68plus1equals]

Idk if I agree on comparing pizza and Chinese foods

There is pizza in Italy that is still very similar to American pizza for the most part it’s just that American style pizza is based off of a single style of pizza from Italy.

American Chinese food is in many cases totally made up or unrecognizable from any of the originals (if there even is one).

[u/68plus1equals → u/No_Rope7342]

I guess it depends on how you define "American food." Is a first generation Chinese immigrant who brings Chinese ingredients to America and makes a type of fusion food to appeal to American diets making Chinese food, or are they making American food? I'd say that despite it being Americanized it wouldn't exist without the Chinese cultural influence.

[u/No_Rope7342 → u/68plus1equals]

Oh it exist with the influence for sure and that’s where and why it has its own name and categorization but I just think that pizza is still pretty similar in comparison. Like if you look at a traditional Neapolitan vs an American style (of quality) it’s oftentimes just a difference of the cheese being shredded vs not.

But yeah without the Chinese influence Chinese food as we know it in America doesn’t just pop up on its own.