北约 vs 金砖国家 —— 有什么区别？两者对比如何？：英语精读讲义

NATO stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. 短語搭配

NATO代表北大西洋公约组织。

It has 29 member countries from Europe,

它拥有29个成员国，分别来自欧洲、

Eurasia, and North America.

欧亚大陆和北美洲。

This alliance was founded mainly on the principles of what NATO calls collective defense. 文化背景

这个联盟主要建立在北约所称的集体防御原则之上。

These should be buddy countries defending each other when needed,

这些国家应该作为盟友，在需要时互相保卫，

but the relationship goes deeper than that. 習語

但其关系远不止于此。

We'll find out later how.

我们稍后会一探究竟。

NATO says it's open to new European members

北约表示对新的欧洲成员国持开放态度，

just as long as they further the principles of this treaty 語法

只要他们能进一步推进该条约的原则，

and contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area. 短語搭配

并为北大西洋地区的安全做出贡献。

As for BRICS, 表達脈絡

至于金砖国家（BRICS），

that's an acronym that stands for the nations of Brazil,

这是一个代表巴西、

Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

俄罗斯、印度、中国和南非的缩写词。

It used to be just BRIC until South Africa came to the game in 2010 語法

过去它只是金砖四国（BRIC），直到2010年南非加入

and pluralized the group.

才使得该集团的缩写变成了复数形式。

How do these alliances compare?

这两个联盟该如何比较呢？

That's what we'll find out today.

这就是我们今天要探讨的内容。

In this episode of The Infographics Show,

在这一期的《信息图表秀》中，

NATO versus BRICS.

北约对决金砖国家。

Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell button

别忘了订阅并点击小铃铛按钮，

so that you can be part of a notification squad.

这样你就能成为我们通知小分队的一员。

Yes, you are probably thinking,

是的，你可能在想，

how can they compare these alliances?

他们怎么能把这两个联盟进行比较呢？

One is a giant and the other relatively small, 語法

一个是庞然大物，另一个相对较小，

if not growing fast.

尽管增长速度很快。

Well, this is a comparison just to help you learn more about both organizations,

好吧，这个比较只是为了帮助你更多地了解这两个组织，

and we shouldn't really be thinking about it as some kind of literal matchup. 用詞

我们不应该把它看作是字面意义上的直接对决。

However, you can watch the show and make up your own mind. 習語

不过，你可以看完节目后得出自己的判断。

Let's start with what NATO is.

让我们先从北约是什么开始。

We'll list the 29 countries in order that they joined,

我们将按照加入顺序顺序列出这29个国家，

bearing in mind that 12 countries founded NATO in 1949. 短語搭配

请记住，1949年有12个国家创立了北约。

These were Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy,

它们分别是比利时、加拿大、丹麦、法国、冰岛、意大利、

Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,

卢森堡、荷兰、挪威、葡萄牙、

the United Kingdom, and the United States.

英国和美国。

Greece and Turkey came next in 1952,

接着是1952年加入的希腊和土耳其，

West Germany in 1955,

1955年的西德，

but when Germany in 1990 was reunified,

但当1990年德国重新统一后，

what had been East Germany joined the gang. 語法

前东德地区也加入了这个集体。

Next, over many years,

接下来，在许多年的时间里，

came Spain, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland,

西班牙、捷克共和国、匈牙利、波兰、

Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania,

保加利亚、爱沙尼亚、拉脱维亚、立陶宛、罗马尼亚、

Slovakia, Slovenia, Albania, Croatia,

斯洛伐克、斯洛文尼亚、阿尔巴尼亚、克罗地亚相继加入，

and last to join was Montenegro in 2017.

最后一个加入的是2017年的黑山共和国。

It took longer for some countries to join because they were aligned with the Warsaw Pact, 短語搭配

一些国家花费了更长的时间才加入，因为它们曾与华沙条约组织结盟，

or in the case of a country such as Montenegro,

或者像黑山共和国这样的国家，

because it was part of the former Yugoslavia.

因为它曾是前南斯拉夫的一部分。

You might ask then, why is Serbia not a member?

那么你可能会问，为什么塞尔维亚不是成员国？

Well, according to NATO,

嗯，根据北约的说法，

unlike other Western Balkan partners,

与其他西巴尔干伙伴不同，

Serbia does not aspire to join the alliance. 短語搭配

塞尔维亚并不渴望加入该联盟。

It does, however, want to stay friendly. 表達脈絡

不过，它确实希望保持友好关系。

Countries such as Australia are allies of NATO,

像澳大利亚这样的国家是北约的盟友，

friendly, but not in the group.

关系友好，但不在该集团内。

It's the same with New Zealand.

新西兰也是如此。

Turkey is the only nation in the group which is a transcontinental nation, 文化背景

土耳其是该集团中唯一一个地跨两大洲的国家，

often called Eurasian as it's mostly in Asia but partly in Europe.

通常被称为欧亚国家，因为它大部分在亚洲，一部分在欧洲。

So, was NATO all about protecting each member and not starting another war?

那么，北约成立的目的完全是为了保护每个成员国并避免挑起新的战争吗？

Kind of, and also an extension of the Marshall Plan to build trade between nations 語氣意圖

可以说是的，同时也是马歇尔计划的延伸，旨在建立国家间的贸易关系，

and also get them on one side against America's big bad wolf at the door, communism. 習語

也是为了把它们团结在一起，共同对抗美国门外那匹险恶的大灰狼——共产主义。

You can also find plenty of articles and research out there that discusses the economic effect of being a NATO member.

你也可以找到大量关于成为北约成员国经济影响的文章和研究。

Most analysts agree that getting in with the group can bolster a country's economy, 講解

大多数分析人士同意，加入该集团可以提振一个国家的经济，

but also serve to help education, innovation, and entrepreneurialism.

同时也有助于教育、创新和创业精神的发展。

So, that's NATO in a nutshell. 習語

所以，这就是北约的简要介绍。

What about BRICS?

那金砖国家呢？

Well, this collaboration started in 2006 when the first BRIC meeting was held.

这个合作始于2006年举行的首次金砖四国会议。

The group's raison d'être was, like NATO, 用詞

该集团的宗旨与北约一样，

to help its members, but there is less emphasis on defense.

是为了帮助其成员国，但对国防的侧重点较少。

BRIC members would support each other regarding the economy,

金砖国家成员会在经济、

business and trade, education, agriculture, health, technology, science, and the arts.

商业贸易、教育、农业、健康、技术、科学和艺术等领域互相支持。

Matters of defense, of course, are also matters of economy,

当然，国防问题也是经济问题，

so the twain meet occasionally. 習語

所以两者偶尔会有交集。

The International Monetary Fund says these BRICS countries together control about 22% of the world's GDP.

国际货币基金组织表示，这五个金砖国家共同控制着全球约22%的GDP。

In terms of population, 短語搭配

在人口方面，

these five countries are made up of around 42.58% of the world,

这五个国家占世界人口的42.58%左右，

over 3 billion people.

超过30亿人。

As for NATO, well, it's much smaller in terms of population at around 800 million people,

至于北约，就人口而言规模要小得多，大约有8亿人，

but the nations of China and India, according to the UN,

但根据联合国的数据，中国和印度的人口

are going to explode over the next 40 odd years,

在未来40多年里将呈爆炸式增长，

while Nigeria will take over the United States in terms of population.

而尼日利亚在人口上将超过美国。

So, regarding the amount of people,

因此，就人口数量而言，

BRICS is going to be more like a stone wall casting a shadow over the fence of NATO. 習語

金砖国家更像是一堵投下阴影盖过北约围墙的石墙。

BRICS nations are said to be more developing than some of the more developed economic powerhouses of NATO, 用詞

人们常说金砖国家大多处于发展中阶段，相比之下，北约的一些经济强国更为发达，

nations that have been rich and powerful for a long time

这些国家长期以来一直富裕且强大，

and have wielded imperial military might all over the world for many years, 短語搭配

并在多年里在世界各地展示过帝国主义的军事霸权，

often in a bloodthirsty manner, we might add.

我们可能要补充一句，通常是以一种残暴的方式。

But this has given them much power and improved industry and innovation.

但这给了它们很大的权力，并促进了工业和创新的发展。

According to a NATO report, the GDP of every NATO country is almost $38 trillion.

根据一份北约报告，所有北约国家的GDP总额接近38万亿美元。

The USA makes up for a large chunk of this, 語法

其中美国占据了很大一部分，

with Germany, France, and the UK also being strong economies.

德国、法国和英国也是强劲的经济体。

BRICS has a total GDP of around $17 trillion, with China leading the way. 習語

金砖国家的总GDP约为17万亿美元，其中中国一马当先。

It's anyone's guess what will happen to these economies over the next 15 or 20 years, 習語

未来15或20年这些经济体会发生什么，谁也说不准，

but most economists don't see BRICS slowing down. 語法

但大多数经济学家并不认为金砖国家的发展速度会放缓。

Many people think that by 2030, China's economy will be bigger than the USA's,

许多人认为，到2030年，中国的经济规模将超过美国，

while India won't be far behind in third place. 習語

而印度也将紧随其后位居第三。

Russia, Japan, and Indonesia will be grouped behind India,

据说，俄罗斯、日本和印度尼西亚将排在印度之后，

so we are told, but with much smaller economies. 表達脈絡

但它们的经济规模要小得多。

While Brazil will also be a top 10 nation,

虽然巴西也将跻身前十名，

so will Germany, the UK, and France. 語法

德国、英国和法国也是如此。

Well, that's the prediction.

这就是预测的结果。

This is in spite of many articles telling us over the last few years 語法

尽管过去几年里有许多文章告诉我们

that the BRICS bubble had burst, with China seeing some economic slowdown 習語

金砖国家的泡沫已经破裂，中国出现了一些经济放缓，

and Russia and Brazil feeling the sting of recession. 習語

而俄罗斯和巴西则感受到了经济衰退的阵痛。

The Guardian referred to this, stating,

《卫报》提到了这一点，并表示：

"Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa

“巴西、俄罗斯、印度、中国和南非

seem to be failing to justify predictions of 21st century domination."

似乎未能实现其在21世纪占据主导地位的预测。”

Time will tell. 習語

时间会证明一切。

Another problem BRICS faces is endemic corruption, 短語搭配

金砖国家面临的另一个问题是地方性腐败，

and this is generally not seen as something good for social and economic progress.

这通常被认为不利于社会和经济进步。

BRICS countries also still have plenty of abject poverty, 短語搭配

金砖国家仍然存在着大量赤贫现象，

even while the middle class grows. 語法

即使中产阶级在不断壮大。

India, for instance, according to the recent book, India Conquered:

例如，根据最近出版的《被征服的印度：

The Chaos of Empire,

帝国的混乱》一书所指出的，印度

still has an oppressive caste system and often ensconces its wealthy far away from a poverty

仍然有着压迫性的种姓制度，并且经常将其富人与他们宁愿不知道其存在的

it would rather not know exists. 語法

贫困隔绝开来。

This is generally seen as stifling social mobility. 短語搭配

这通常被认为扼杀了社会阶层的流动性。

By the way, the book takes a very dim view of empire, 習語

顺便说一句，这本书对帝国的看法极其负面，

to say the least, but does say India's class system is a major problem as India tries to develop. 習語

但它确实指出，在印度努力发展的过程中，阶级系统是一个重大问题。

One economics analyst at the University of Cambridge recently stated, though,

不过，剑桥大学的一位经济分析师最近表示

that there is progress, writing,

印度取得了进展，他写道：

"Despite these obstacles, evidence from surveys of nationally representative samples indicates 短語搭配

“尽管存在这些障碍，但具有全国代表性样本的调查证据表明，

that there has been convergence between the upper castes and the lower castes 用詞

在过去几十年里，高种姓和低种姓之间

on education and occupations over the past decades."

在教育和职业方面已经出现了趋同。”

We should also state here that Britain's class system still exists.

我们在这里还应该说明，英国的阶级系统依然存在。

Food banks are common and the poor often live in towns full of charity shops,

食物救济站很常见，穷人通常生活在遍布慈善商店、

discount grocery stores, and betting establishments for the poor's fix of hope.

折扣杂货店和为穷人提供微薄希望的博彩场所的城镇里。

The USA, meanwhile, is said to contain a third world within the highly developed nation. 用詞

与此同时，据说美国在这个高度发达的国家内部包含着一个第三世界。

Still, overall in the latter countries,

尽管如此，在这些发达国家中，总体而言，

there is more opportunity for the average person and a much firmer safety net in place for the vulnerable. 習語

普通人有更多的机会，弱势群体也有更加坚实的社会安全网保障。

In terms of military, you'll know from our long list of shows that NATO has the most powerful,

在军事方面，从我们以往的大量节目中你会知道北约拥有最强大的军力，

mostly because the USA spends so much on defense.

这主要是因为美国在国防上的巨额支出。

NATO writes that total defense spending for all its members in 2017 was almost $946 billion.

北约报告称，2017年其所有成员国的国防总支出近9460亿美元。

That is a huge sum.

那是一笔巨款。

BRICS in total has a defense budget of $286.4 billion.

金砖国家的国防预算总额为2864亿美元。

There is no way we can list how strong each country is individually,

我们无法一一列出每个国家具体的实力，

but we do know from our other shows that Russia is very strong in terms of defense,

但我们从其他节目中得知，俄罗斯在国防方面非常强大，

and India and China are both increasing their military strength at a rapid pace. 短語搭配

而且印度和中国都在快速提升军事实力。

We also know the USA won't stop spending,

我们还知道美国不会停止此类支出，

while the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Turkey also have strong militaries.

同时英国、法国、德国、意大利和土耳其也拥有强大的军队。

As for nuclear strength, that's shared between Russia and the USA for the most part, 短語搭配

至于核力量，则主要由俄罗斯和美国主导，

and the outcome of that kind of battle would likely be the end of us all.

而这种战斗的结果，很可能会是我们所有人的末日。

So, what are your thoughts about all this?

那么，你对这一切有什么看法？

Will BRICS take over NATO in terms of a collective power,

就集体力量而言，金砖国家会超越北约吗？

or does it still lack in certain advancements?

还是它在某些方面仍然存在不足？

Let us know in the comments.

在评论区告诉我们吧。

Also, be sure to check out our other video called FBI versus CIA.

另外，一定要去看看我们另一部叫做《FBI对决CIA》的视频。

Thanks for watching, and as always,

感谢观看，一如既往地，

don't forget to like, share, and subscribe.

别忘了点赞、分享和订阅。

See you next time.

我们下次再见。