The World Cup championship in Brazil was another matter altogether. This time, the Germans won, with a spectacular display of power in a 7 1 semifinal erasure of the host country, Brazil, and a 1 0 triumph over Argentina in the final.

The region s trajectory is worrisome weak states unable to police their territory the few relatively strong states competing for primacy militias and terrorist groups gaining greater influence and the erasure of borders. The local political culture confuses democracy with majoritarianism, with elections used as vehicles to consolidate power, not share it.