Thank you for this. I am hoping to leave the US, perhaps never to return. Because of that, I would be interested in what you think of Russia in the next few generations.
In my opinion, the parts of the world that will suffer less with the end of the Modern Age are those that have a deeper pre-Modern culture on which to fall back, like a civilizational safety net. The main ones are Russia, India, Iran, China, and South America.
The problem, though, is that while each place has its own culture, someone who wasn't raised in it would have to "go native" if he migrates there. Cultural shocks would happen all the time. Things your culture (therefore you) would find revolting would be normal, and things you'd find normal would be revolting for all those around, and so on. As long as you don't believe your new country is "just like what [your country] used to be", instead of accepting its culture with all its peculiarities, it is doable, albeit never easy.
Russia is an Orthodox country, with a strong tradition of Caesaropapism (that is, the civil ruler also has authority over the Church). It makes its culture collectivist, and its citizens lack the independence and individualism of Protestant-derived cultures, such as those of the US and Northern Europe. If you don't adopt the local mindset, you'll probably feel terribly oppressed by all kinds of authority figures, who couldn't care less for your precious "rights", that are so important in Protestant countries and non-existent in Orthodox ones.
You'd have fewer cultural shocks if you moved to Argentina, Chile, or Uruguay instead. They're the most "European" countries in South America. Compared to the US, they're still a lot more collectivist, but compared to Russia their culture is individualist.
I understand the cultural differences fairly well. I have read thousands of history books. I am considering converting to Orthodoxy, partially for doctrinal reasons, more to fit myself to the country, but most especially because I want children, and I want to feel a part of their own country. What I am actually asking about is the future of the country. Despite the recent recovery of Orthodoxy they have a very large number of abortions, and a low birth rate. It seems SK, Japan and several European countries will have a population collapse. Russia may be turning the corner in that regard but it still remains unclear. Their population is still rising, but just from guest workers mostly from their ex-Soviet neighbors. Most of those are not Orthodox but either Muslim or nonreligious.
I do think that demographic issues will greatly effect all of the countries you mentioned. Despite being nominally Catholic, none of them are having children at replacement levels. Italy, supposedly the "most Catholic" country in the world is even worse.
Great article as always, Mr. Ramalhete. I would like to point out that I, like you, am from Rio de Janeiro and we had migrants from Islamic countries that were fully absorbed by the Rio citizens, especially regarding their gastronomy. So, I don't think that Muslims are that big deal if we are in a civilization
1. Brazilian culture is Catholic and actively works to make people become part of the local culture. That's why the first generation born in-country more often than not marries outside their original culture, etc. The Sahara commercial neighborhood in Rio, which has Jewish and Arab store owners side by side, is also a nice example of that. This phenomenon is further aided by the fact that
2. A critical mass of cultural aliens, large enough to make it possible for them to form a ghetto, has never happened. The closest to that in Brazilian history was the mass migration from Japan in the early 20th Century, which led to a Japanese enclave in São Paulo. It caused problems; for instance, there was a militia-like group that killed Japanese-Brazilians who believed in Japan's surrender by the end of WWII;
3. Most immigration from Arabic countries in Brazil was composed of Christian Arabs, especially Maronite Lebanese, who were running away from their Muslim neighbors back home.
I had Sahara neighborhood in mind, also. Now, ain't no way to support the Substack using Brazilian currency? It is hard to pay using dollars to a Brazilian these times.
Thank you for this. I am hoping to leave the US, perhaps never to return. Because of that, I would be interested in what you think of Russia in the next few generations.
In my opinion, the parts of the world that will suffer less with the end of the Modern Age are those that have a deeper pre-Modern culture on which to fall back, like a civilizational safety net. The main ones are Russia, India, Iran, China, and South America.
The problem, though, is that while each place has its own culture, someone who wasn't raised in it would have to "go native" if he migrates there. Cultural shocks would happen all the time. Things your culture (therefore you) would find revolting would be normal, and things you'd find normal would be revolting for all those around, and so on. As long as you don't believe your new country is "just like what [your country] used to be", instead of accepting its culture with all its peculiarities, it is doable, albeit never easy.
Russia is an Orthodox country, with a strong tradition of Caesaropapism (that is, the civil ruler also has authority over the Church). It makes its culture collectivist, and its citizens lack the independence and individualism of Protestant-derived cultures, such as those of the US and Northern Europe. If you don't adopt the local mindset, you'll probably feel terribly oppressed by all kinds of authority figures, who couldn't care less for your precious "rights", that are so important in Protestant countries and non-existent in Orthodox ones.
You'd have fewer cultural shocks if you moved to Argentina, Chile, or Uruguay instead. They're the most "European" countries in South America. Compared to the US, they're still a lot more collectivist, but compared to Russia their culture is individualist.
I understand the cultural differences fairly well. I have read thousands of history books. I am considering converting to Orthodoxy, partially for doctrinal reasons, more to fit myself to the country, but most especially because I want children, and I want to feel a part of their own country. What I am actually asking about is the future of the country. Despite the recent recovery of Orthodoxy they have a very large number of abortions, and a low birth rate. It seems SK, Japan and several European countries will have a population collapse. Russia may be turning the corner in that regard but it still remains unclear. Their population is still rising, but just from guest workers mostly from their ex-Soviet neighbors. Most of those are not Orthodox but either Muslim or nonreligious.
I do think that demographic issues will greatly effect all of the countries you mentioned. Despite being nominally Catholic, none of them are having children at replacement levels. Italy, supposedly the "most Catholic" country in the world is even worse.
Boas!
Conheces aquela "A melhor funcionalidade da democracia é permitir que os escravos tenham liberdade para consumir"?!
Great article as always, Mr. Ramalhete. I would like to point out that I, like you, am from Rio de Janeiro and we had migrants from Islamic countries that were fully absorbed by the Rio citizens, especially regarding their gastronomy. So, I don't think that Muslims are that big deal if we are in a civilization
There are three differences:
1. Brazilian culture is Catholic and actively works to make people become part of the local culture. That's why the first generation born in-country more often than not marries outside their original culture, etc. The Sahara commercial neighborhood in Rio, which has Jewish and Arab store owners side by side, is also a nice example of that. This phenomenon is further aided by the fact that
2. A critical mass of cultural aliens, large enough to make it possible for them to form a ghetto, has never happened. The closest to that in Brazilian history was the mass migration from Japan in the early 20th Century, which led to a Japanese enclave in São Paulo. It caused problems; for instance, there was a militia-like group that killed Japanese-Brazilians who believed in Japan's surrender by the end of WWII;
3. Most immigration from Arabic countries in Brazil was composed of Christian Arabs, especially Maronite Lebanese, who were running away from their Muslim neighbors back home.
I had Sahara neighborhood in mind, also. Now, ain't no way to support the Substack using Brazilian currency? It is hard to pay using dollars to a Brazilian these times.
I have no idea about Substack paying methods, but if you do want to contribute, my PIX is profcarlos @ hsjonline.com , without the spaces.
Everything I write here can be read by everybody, anyway. I hate paywalls, so I would never willingly raise one myself.
Thanks a lot!