Why can't Portugal rise again?

Judging from the modern history of the world, Portugal is definitely a powerful country in the early modern history. With a land of 65,438+10,000 square kilometers and a small country with a population of several million, Portugal took the lead in rising. Colonies were established all over the world, with a territory as high as 6.5438+million square kilometers, and it was a veritable superpower in modern times. However, less than 200 years ago, Portugal has completely declined. It is almost impossible to go up any more. Why?

First of all, we should understand why Portugal, as a small country about the size of South Korea, became a big country in modern times. Still building colonies around the world and occupying Macao for 400 years? In fact, the most essential thing is Portugal's ability to innovate and change.

Modern continental European countries were blocked by the Ottoman Empire and could not trade with the East, so the West was always poor. Portugal, on the other hand, took the lead in finding another way and opening up a new air route. After the opening of the new air route, Portugal's relatively advanced technology and civilization immediately produced a powerful force in backward areas of the world, so Portugal can easily establish colonies in South America, Africa and Asia.

The wealth plundered by the colonies further strengthened Portugal's strength, thus laying a strong foundation for modern Portugal. And there is another important reason why Portugal can be strong, that is, the collective slow shooting of western European countries. At that time, the internal problems in Britain had not been solved, France, Germany and Italy had not been unified, that is, the tiger was not at home and the monkey was called overlord. This just gives Portugal a gap. So it can be said that the right time, the right place and the right people contributed to the rise of Portugal.

However, after that, when Britain and France solved their domestic problems, Germany, risorgimento and Portugal immediately failed. Moreover, Portugal has lost its ability to innovate because of the support of the colonies, because there are few Portuguese, and the wealth of the colonies is enough for the Portuguese to live a good life. Wealth is gradually squandered and not invested in national construction and scientific and technological development, so the trend of weakness is unstoppable. What is Portugal really like now?

First, the position is awkward.

There are many European powers now, and Portugal is a small third-rate country. In the face of European powers, there is no chance to stand out. And Spain alone is enough to destroy Portugal many times. Even Portugal's current momentum is far less than that of its own colony Brazil. Many Portuguese immigrants to Brazil can see how declining Portugal is now.

In both cases, the scientific and technological population is backward.

Now that the country is strong, it still relies on scientific and technological innovation and an adequate population as in modern times. This is how the United States and China developed. Modern Portugal is also strong because of innovation, but now Portugal has long lost its ability to innovate and its national industry has declined. Moreover, the industrial structure is based on the foundation and resources, so it is difficult for such a structure to produce strength.

Moreover, because of the falling prices of energy and resources, Portugal's economy has declined in recent years, its income has decreased, and even its status as a developed country may not be maintained in the future. What's more, Portugal has lost its population advantage, and the population base of100000 is only a small country now, which is far worse than that of South Korea. At present, the world powers are all populous countries, which is the source of strength. Therefore, Portugal's basic conditions have no chance.

Of the three, Portugal missed the opportunity.

Modern Portugal was not involved in the internal friction of European powers in the two world wars, so it can be said that there was almost no loss. We can seize these decades, strive to develop, expand and gain advantages. However, during this period, although Portugal did not participate in the war, it failed to seize the opportunity of development and lost the last chance of rising. So up to now, Portugal's own strength is weak and there is no motivation for development. Just keep the hat of a developed country in the future, and it is impossible to rise.

?

References: Portuguese history.