The formation of modern Brazil in two times: a comparative analysis of Oliveira Vianna and Hélio Jaguaribe thoughts

Author(s)

Fernanda Xavier da Silva

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas
• Defense date: 2013-09-12

Examining board members

Elide Rugai Bastos; Maria Fernanda Lombardi Fernandes; Bernardo Ricupero; Milton Lahuerta; Marcelo Siqueira Ridenti

• Advisor: Elide Rugai Bastos

Abstract

This study is mainly aimed to comparatively analyze the works of Oliveira Vianna and Hélio Jaguaribe. Based on the concept that maintained the same aspects / problems over time, the ideas admit some tolerance and upgrading (Brandão, 2007), we demonstrate that, despite the differences in their texts and contexts, there are important affinities between these authors, which allows us to frame them as members of the same intellectual family. As a secondary objective, we establish a dialogue between these works and their main interpretations in order to apprehend the meaning of these ideas. Through the examination of issues, paths of analysis and political agendas that each of these authors alluded, in conjunction with the historical context in which they spoke, we observe that both works involve continuities and transformations, some even contradictory, which allows several lectures. Taking to the comparative plan we observe, in what was constant, approximations and deviations of these two reasoning. We find that, despite their different agendas (organization versus development) and approaches (social-political versus economic), Oliveira Vianna and Hélio Jaguaribe shared not only issues but also lines of thinking and, in some sense, projects. Guided by the interpretation of Brazil in its features, shortcomings and failures, both pointed to the impossibility of society, in an endogenous movement, to transform its reality, and erected the state as an actor and agent of change. They proved to be "organic idealists", as the concept of Brandão (2007) - the problems are in society, and can be overcome only through the state action (AU)