# Bolivia destined to be a super power? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 14, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203 "2010-06-14T21:34:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203/1 "2010-06-14T21:34:53Z")
I am looking for a book I read shortly after it was published in 1961 which contained the most farfetched theory I have ever read in a scholarly book. The author believed that in world politics, like in real estate, the most important determinant of a nation’s power was location, location, location He said that he had determined that the central point of the earth’s land mass was in the country of Bolivia and that now, in age of air transportation and intercontinental rockets, once the political strategists of the world realized it, Bolivia would become the focal point of their interests and Bolivia would become the dominent power in the world. I kid you not. Does anyone know the name of this book and its author?. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203/2 "2010-06-14T22:37:38Z")
No, but on a related note I saw an article about a television program screening this week, which was called ‘Life after Oil’ (or something like that). One of its themes was that Bolivia, which holds half of the world’s lithium deposits, will become a major power once other countries’ oil reserves begin to wane. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203/3 "2010-06-14T22:59:32Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > … Bolivia, which holds half of the world’s lithium deposits, will become a major power once other countries’ oil reserves begin to wane. Apparently large deposits of lithium have very recently been discovered in Afghanistan. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203/4 "2010-06-14T23:06:57Z")
Soon they will join forces as ‘OLEC’ and dominate the world. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203/5 "2010-06-14T23:12:29Z")
They took down Butch and Sundance, that should count for something. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203/6 "2010-06-14T23:12:39Z")
> [@Ronald\_C.Semone](#): > > He said that he had determined that the central point of the earth’s land mass was in the country of Bolivia Did he say how he had determined this? It’s not obvious that there’s an unambiguous way to do such a thing on a sphere. Noting that the [antipodes of Bolivia is roughly Hong Kong](http://www.antipodemap.com/), which is doing quite well for itself, thank you, it’s hard to give the argument much credence. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203/7 "2010-06-14T23:42:05Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > Did he say how he had determined this? It’s not obvious that there’s an unambiguous way to do such a thing on a sphere. Noting that the [antipodes of Bolivia is roughly Hong Kong](http://www.antipodemap.com/), which is doing quite well for itself, thank you, it’s hard to give the argument much credence. I agree and that is why I wanted to look up the book and re-read his argument. One of the loose ends in life I want to take care of as I get older. ---
**Author:** ![Umbriel2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/4af34b/32.png) [@Umbriel2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Umbriel2)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203/8 "2010-06-15T03:34:24Z")
There’s a whole school of historical and international affairs analysis known as [“Geostrategy”. The Wikipedia listing for it lists various names that might jog your memory](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geostrategy), though I saw no mention of Bolivia there, specifically. I used to get a free promotional foreign policy newsletter from an outfit called [Stratfor](http://www.stratfor.com/), which is of that school. Its chief analyst, George Friedman, recently published a [book predicting foreign policy trends over the next century](http://www.amazon.com/Next-100-Years-Forecast-Century/dp/038551705X), that’s gotten some positive press, but I’m unaware of Bolivia playing a significant part in it. Are you sure your 1961 book was making its Bolivia prediction seriously, as opposed to a tongue-in-cheek illustration of the pitfalls of focusing one’s analysis too narrowly and projecting trends too singlemindedly? ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203/9 "2010-06-15T04:05:48Z")
> [@Ronald\_C.Semone](#): > > He said that he had determined that the central point of the earth’s land mass was in the country of Bolivia As a considerably higher proportion of the Earth’s land is in the northern rather then the southern hemisphere (even if you count Antarctica, which you probably shouldn’t) this seems highly implausible (or highly gerrymandered). Mind you, most other aspects of the theory you describe seem highly implausible too. Was the author Bolivian? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203/10 "2010-06-15T13:59:37Z")
Maybe the book was written as magical realism, which originated in that part of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203/11 "2010-06-15T14:31:20Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Maybe the book was written as magical realism, which originated in that part of the world. Well, I’m certain you could find a copy in The Library of Babel. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203/12 "2010-06-15T14:44:03Z")
Also observe that it will be hard for it to become a “superpower” while sharing a continent with Brazil, which is much more likely to attain that status. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203/13 "2010-06-15T14:49:20Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > Also observe that it will be hard for it to become a “superpower” while sharing a continent with Brazil, which is much more likely to attain that status. I seem to recall reading that Charles DeGaulle once said that Brazil was the country of the future, and always would be. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203/14 "2010-06-15T15:01:31Z")
I don’t know the name of the book mentioned in the OP, but I have heard that one of the reasons that Emirates Airline has been successful is that Dubai’s central location makes it a really excellent place for an international hub. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203/15 "2010-06-15T15:07:05Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > As a considerably higher proportion of the Earth’s land is in the northern rather then the southern hemisphere (even if you count Antarctica, which you probably shouldn’t) this seems highly implausible (or highly gerrymandered). > > Mind you, most other aspects of the theory you describe seem highly implausible too. Was the author Bolivian? Actually, I’d wager there was the same amount of land in each hemisphere, it’s just that most of it is covered by water in the southern hemisphere. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203/16 "2010-06-15T15:09:25Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I seem to recall reading that Charles DeGaulle once said that Brazil was the country of the future, and always would be. Heh. It’s the B in “BRIC”, and there’s a better chance these days that that particular future may actually arrive: [http://citizen-40.tressugar.com/Brazil-Future-Economic-Super-Power-6309013](http://citizen-40.tressugar.com/Brazil-Future-Economic-Super-Power-6309013) > [@](#): > > Sometime after 2014 Brazil is scheduled to become the worlds 5th largest economy saying to Great Britan and France uhm excuse me I beleive that’s my seat. In many ways Brazil is said to outclass the other up and comers (Chine, India and Russia). Unlike China and Russia it is a democracy. Unlike India it has no insurgent, ethnic, religious hostility or unfriendly neighbors. Unlike Russia it exports more than oil and arms and treats it’s investors with respect. Is that code for arss kissing? LOL I’m not certain whether that blogger is creating content or quoting the pictured “Economist” article. I suspect the latter. If so, the typos suggest he was copying it from the article manually, and probably interjected the LOL. Nevermind. The point is well taken. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203/17 "2010-06-15T15:10:44Z")
> [@](#): > > **Dewey Finn** > I don’t know the name of the book mentioned in the OP, but I have heard that one of the reasons that Emirates Airline has been successful is that Dubai’s central location makes it a really excellent place for an international hub. I can believe that. Just by eyeballing a map, Dubai looks a lot more “central” to me than Bolivia does. All the same, Dubai does not seem set to become “the dominant power in the world” (and even if it does, it won’t be for that reason). ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203/18 "2010-06-15T15:12:32Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Actually, I’d wager there was the same amount of land in each hemisphere, it’s just that most of it is covered by water in the southern hemisphere. Backs slowly away. > [@](#): > > Sometime after 2014 Brazil is scheduled to become the worlds 5th largest economy Who sets these schedules? ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203/19 "2010-06-15T15:44:07Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > … > > Who sets these schedules? Some pundit who eyeballs charts, and assumes trends will continue, or maybe even knows how to calculate a linear regression. Nonetheless, it’s worth noting that Brazil’s GDP grew by 9% last quarter, and they’ve been muscling their way into “big economy” club for a long time. Technically, by GDP, they ought to be the 8th member of the G8 right now. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203/20 "2010-06-15T15:51:36Z")
What _does_ Brazil export besides lumber and jiggling buttcheeks? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolivia-destined-to-be-a-super-power/543203.md?page=2)