Subcivilizational differences block otherwise-qualified states from becoming core states

Evidence

With respect to Latin America, conceivably Spain could have become the core state of a Spanish-speaking or even Iberian civilization but its leaders consciously chose to become a member state in European civilization, while at the same time maintaining cultural links with its former colonies. Size, resources, population, military and economic capacity, qualify Brazil to be the leader of Latin America, and conceivably it could become that. Brazil, however, is to Latin America what Iran is to Islam. Otherwise well-qualified to be a core state, subcivilizational differences (religious with Iran, linguistic with Brazil) make it difficult for it to assume that role. — Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the…, 370

Categorization

• XREF: The Brazil-linguistic / Iran-religious parallel reflects the cleft-civilization dynamics introduced earlier in the book.