Democracy and nationalism: the leftish police force in São Paulo (1935-1964)

• Grant number: 10/05526-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2010
• End date: November 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Political Science - State and Government
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Ribeiro Rodrigues da Cunha
• Grantee: Paulo Ribeiro Rodrigues da Cunha
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia e Ciências (FFC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Marília. Marília , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project aims to enhance the intervention from the PCB through its military branch - ANTiMIL - inside the Police Force Institutions in São Paulo, namely : Public Forces and Civil Guard, from 1935 to 1964. In opposition to Army Forces, studies mentioning the leftish presence and even the communits intervention, about its presence inside the Police Force, only some mentions are found, though insignificant. It is considered that the ANTIMIL organization inside the PMs paulistas (Military Police Force, in São Paulo)) was first noticed in the 30s, with a focus as the intervention point against ´Integralistas´, at Batalha da SÉ (SÉ Battle). Later we face its dismemberment brought on by post-35-repression. Meanwhile there is an aspect which deserves an enhancement, and became a reference point among the military forces, including the police forces. The Military branches, as much as the policies had influenced the PCB in this first period and was in its turn influenced by the International Comunista - IC, but later, up to 1938, specially when we consider the successive fracas suffered by many insurretional movements throughout the world, there came to be a new policy in Brazil - União Nacional (National Union); this policy was specially significant, considering the impending II World War. This policy contained some reelaboration concerning the conjunction and vicissitudes faced by PCB during those years, the central hypothesis that guides it is that - among the military and police forces this policy remained predominant up to 1964; this reflexion also continues guiding their members in considering the increasing value of democracy as also the national issue. And in the 50s up to 1964 this policy - União Nacional (National Union) expanded to a higher central position among the Military forces (specially after the lessons received in the events of the military coup in 1935), as much as the nationalist agenda was simultaneously influenced by a project of a nation; in this, the police force from São Paulo incorporated this reflexion along with some other factors; and more so, to consider the democratic issue that sprung among them, and their several class organizations born in the period. To finish, the communist left started to become the third political force among the police force, and the only one that became a bond for them, under a single project for intervention. (AU)