THE ALLIANCE FOR PROGRESS DURING THE CASTELLO BRANCO GOVERNMENT (1964-1967): conditions of U.S. Economic Aid and the consolidation of the Military Dictatorship in Brazil

• Grant number: 24/20857-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - History
• Principal Investigator: Felipe Pereira Loureiro
• Grantee: José Victor de Lara
• Host Institution: Instituto de Relações Internacionais (IRI). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project aims to analyze the role of the Alliance for Progress program during the first government of the Brazilian Military Dictatorship (1964-1967). The focus of the research will be to investigate how the economic and technical aid projects of the Alliance aligned with the interests of the dictatorial regime, thereby influencing its consolidation both nationally and internationally. This proposal seeks to fill a historiographical gap by examining the allocation of economic resources and the conditions for such investments under the Castello Branco government. In parallel, the objective is to map the funded projects and explore the U.S. demands for the realization of loans and aid grants by analyzing documents from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Simultaneously, Brazilian sources, especially from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Planning, will be analyzed to evaluate the dynamics of the reciprocal interests of both countries and to what extent relations with the U.S. were fundamental in ensuring the stability and legitimacy of the Military Dictatorship in Brazil. Additionally, the research seeks to elucidate the U.S. determinants for the allocation of resources, as well as the strategies and means employed to defend its interests in Brazil. Finally, the study hopes to offer a critical analysis of the dynamics of international relations that shaped and helped consolidate the authoritarian structures in Brazil.