Reinterpreting Brazil: from bourgeois revolution to conservative modernization

Abstract

In interpretations about Brazil elaborated in the 20th century, the historical absence of the people as a relevant actor in the main events of Brazilian political history is a recurring theme. Several interpreters who wrote in this century noted this absence. Oliveira Vianna, for example, highlighted the lack of civic sentiment in Brazil as one of the factors explaining the “superficiality” of our revolutions.