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7/31/1965 - How Brazilian is Brazil? by James C. Brewer

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS How Brazilian Brazil Yale Avenue JCB Swarthmore Pennsylvania July Mr Richard Nolte Institute Current World Affairs Madison Avenue New York New York Dear Mr Nolte different other Latin countries We violence settle problems You reale independent people world Argen people sterile culture varied In people country I visited swing around South Americ great pride their distinctiveness offended North American habit lumping Argentinians Chileans Brazilians worse Peruvians Bolivians They tried convince their inherent differences Are Latin Americans really unique other Or similarities enough possible generalize about whole This uestion I spent Brazilian problems It finally caused closely Chile Argentina countries Uruguay developed Iropeanized below equator therefore possibility similarity Brazil My country necessarily short contacts mostly limited sociologists educators impressions emerged Arge ntina Argentina richest Latin America Second Brszil endowed basic resources needed developing nation There plenty There developing primary secondary industries There poverty literacy largest middle class Latin American country except perhaps Mexico But Argentine stumbles staggers economic Dolitical crisis another greatness hamstrun problems appear demanding difficult Shy reedy solution Their economy based exclusively export grain rapid immigration which brought stimulstiom economr caused problems adjustment between settlers Regional strles national politicsl power migration Buemms Aires caused urban problems neglect other regions This further revated inability people political changes easily JCB What impressed there national pride little cooperation little constructive action concern about nation little about people together little reliance I found characteristcs which eemed large compounding complexity their problems You might personlism paternalism fatalism nrcissism To Argentine nation people reason elemental irrefutable axiomatic pride Argentine writes Spanish philosopher Ortesa Gasser At traditional strong enough Argentnans extend their trust those their countrymen Their characteristic pride their nationality their family centered pride carry faith others those outside their group family Instead trust there likely suspicion A newsman historian explains shouldn icious It pattern country justice those close fatlnt authority friend If group treated Where personalism prevails everyone after himself family group order It expected everyone Therefore presum person lated looking after interests rather yours cannot trusted A person expected dishonest until proven otherwise This difficult least people different backgrounds different interests together effectively government national program In place unity cooperation country military provides stability there Government While Argentinians declare their country military minded military looked repeatedly country divided traditionally secure Argentinian professio An extension personalism often running counter paternalism which often moves Argentini evade responsibility faults This dependency initially structure Of family early dynasties landed aristocra The somewhat feudal pampas today industrialized society father figure become Government Peron patron especially working class Under example railways nationalized increasing number workers found His padding employment helped railway inefficient The money expended oversize payroll million employees country financial deficit In PresRlent Arture Frondizi tried eliminate excess working force managed trigger strike which prevented carrying gained increase workers Today government srong enough dependency In meantime people There general shirking responsibility They always responsible though criticizer somewhere They refer government busness Peronists Radicals miltary United States A businessman Various groups demanding conscious their needs hnkng reason someone fault someone correction solve problem Seldom hours better mprove their sklls Since overnmen provided expected continue since provided Dected continue Since country endowed expected flourish It appears Argentinlans believe somehow perhaps through dvine grace their problems those their country solved Argentina longer first importance Latin America hasnotdeterredtheArgentinian sfaithinthe greatness thedestin Arg entine people They reatness innate quality which events might delay expect anything God Again Ortega Gasser writes The Argentine people content nation among require exalted destiny demand themselves proud future taste history without triumph determined command They rationalize their lessening importance Latin America proud ssertion really Buropean Latin American They point Buropean country Aericas except perhaps Canada racially Other nations uropean peoples descended racial mixtures negroes Indians Argen inians racial problems because minorities virtually their prejudice against Buropeans quite evident neighbors north They would themselves outsized pampas independence confidence bravadura gaucho But great adventurous pampas today And attitudes traditions which seemed splendid paternalistic hacienda system serve defeaZ their attempts greatness today Intellectuals apathy myself family group first attitude distrustfulness others responsibility cause their country filure their great potential This They great peasure innumerating flaws their countrymen which their great destiny They little right Argentine character apparent would their compatriots something quite different could The result criticism creation feeling impotence wanting different wanting which They security Comfort achievements progress esteem which transformed developed Argentina would bring Argentinian music traditionally pretty gloomy stuff Argentinians accused being naturally morose But whether characteristic innate caused contemplating their troubles I never people enjoying their misery The Argentinian himself problems about endlessly criticizing living prima donna scrapbook He great future endlessly while moaning commiserating slowness If country started moving ahead Argentinian sociologist pointed Eve would nothing about prodding until found something wrong Chile Chileans themselves Latin America sensible people Argentina political development revolutionary often influenced extremism contrast Of Chile moderate evolutionary There purely physical reasons difference Chile compact country population located central section while people Argentina Brazil diffused inaccessible areas It fight battles regionalism where loyalties sometimes cause lasting antagonisms Also compared Argentina stream immigrants Europe moderate number making easier integrate newcomers society In Argentina Brazil military which conscience country sometimes In Chile country pride milita downgraded Chilean sociologist Here people Who serve nation conscience believe democracy armed forces protect their interests The military tzadit_on bound interfere political affairs I considered profession influence country negliible different state affairs exists either Argen Brazil Chileans pride themselves their reliance their constitution After election Christian Democrat Eduardo Frei there there might overthrow arliament traditional government either opponents Fre feared popularity lberlism views supporters wanted congress which nually obstd program reforms In spite nat_onsl people polled favor closing psrliament poltcal observers country assured there A revolution wouldn acceptable It I sgans tradition It would rdculous The people wouldn stand And majority sympathetic Frei elected prliament electon pr1amentary radton there volence attempt bring about change force There tradition rather public service A though there bureaucracy evils noticsble Brazil Argentina Political honesty modesty other Latin American countries Chile expected Ex President Jorge Alessandri typified values upper middle class conservative approach problems economy conscious governmen personal habits He frugally lived rather house provided government often alked fellow countrymen without bodyguard The manifestation these values rather flexible lberal Of conservatisM Chile governed combination mddle class aristocratic elites flexible enough allow concessions groups conceivably foster volen upheaval Althouh there great dfferences wealth ortunity country American observer ndcated Chleans Cle country naton hghly positive natonalsm tends reach breach before Christian Democrats swept power March parlamentary elections electorate previous national elections voted parties which advocated programs changing country economic poltcal structure But Allessandr Government considered center country poltcal spectrum progressive enough example other Latin American countreso It major housing plans chanE tenure reforms I0 developmen scheme That Chile ready beyond indic election Fre elected reformer That Chile adheres values deration ndicated party further extreme proposals More significant comparing Chilean people latin Americans while captivated Prei personality individual party platform In Argentina Brazil politics greater extent based personalism parties founded around personality rather platform ideology All educated Chileans great pride their country civilized traditions Their capitol Santiago considered those living there Gen Latin America because numerous international agencies their because cultured civilixed They pride their European stock European their French taste literature Even their political party structure Catholic churc definite French influence It Chilean Paris They kindly feeling Uraguay believe share refined European culture vastly superior Argentina Brazil Argen tinians European association Chilean sense savoir faire really cosmopolitan people And while indicate concern racial purity Argentinins their Indians their uncultured European standards Thus think Bolivians indian stock hicks distinction between Central Americans lndian blood South Americans Indian inheritance They differences between their relative urity mixture Braz Here greatest fault Chilean peogle their economic olitical leadership They little concern those Indians their country With tteir emphasis being European attemrted significant number heritage Chilean Indian About million Indians C reserves outside This about times razil times those remain Argentina A Chilean student country relations those ce_sidered European mestizos descendents Sanish Indian parentage Although tnere little existent racial tension believed there great potential trouble Chilean Ind members Araucanos tribe tribe Americas other Seminoles never defeted invading Europeans I talked Dr Ximena Bunster lived worked among tribes Chileans believe association Indians wouId children intellige Indians looked minority peoples everywhere dirty ligen Indians found difficult improve their condition They difficulty getting instance improve their homes educet necessary other manual labour around vicious circle There Indian Service rather agents indians assimilate Chilean culture rather difficult business because Indians proud consider themselves superior Chileans defea nation Their Chilean huinca thief They refuse cooperate innocent emissaries health officials inoculate against diseases They complain health people their needles treat animals Whatever their problems attitude clear country optimism Some Chileans claim Argentinians never heard It would against their nature think Chile could while I there They something Argentinians which works their favor sense humor Chileans critical their government their leaders Arge tinians countryman pointed Our people acute sense ridiculous If ourselves uation If certainly expect noticed Perhaps Chile bring social revolution peaceful means She seems imDossible Argentina improbable Brazil comes quite possible Chileans ahead Brazil Brazilians keener sense ridiculous Chileans Their humor permeates phases their oride themselves their peacefulness their concern constitutionality Their revolutions point usually bloodless And process there always regard doing const utonally Somehow things storybook quality Brazil There still seems something unreal about itutional revolution But Brazil country contrasts ambiguities where reason logic cannot relied trying understand people In place Brazil large country large continental United States there difference between people Northeast Southern ndustrial complex there between New Ycr City Americus Georgia Southern Brazil large uropean population common Buenos Aires Santiago Amazonas region Shnd amazing thing there Brazilian traits common people apart Argentina Chile In Argentina Chile large proportion people urbanites census showed urban population Argentina Chile Uzugua7 In Brazil steady migration cities census showed urbanites still retain their rural culture Perhaps family still important Brazilian Brazil Argentina breaking traditional pattern colonial paternalism The Braz_lian family includes those immediately related distant cousins children close friends group after other provide security needed shifting sands Brazilian Upper class families particularly insulte their positions power intrusions outsiders creating block mobility Brazilians lower classes except marriage A study family connections would their overwhelming influence business politics military phases leadership As Argentina Brazil there conspicuous absence community spirit Instead community action needs people complicated network personal family relationships Charit outsige family grout often exist personal basis concern responsibility those outside immediate group matter In legacy colonial patriarchal system Roman Catholi Church which tended leave individual alone religious obligations It legacy Brazilian react negatively impersonal business political organization The formal structure government system which things supposed argued about although argument atiStic merits organizational chart rather efficiency areed nstalled But Brazilian continue business person person basis As proper procedures formally established channels complex simply learns wants needs spite The jeito basic Brazilian personality It difficult define person maneuver short necessary either through passage money through knowing right person things accomplished If something Brazil usual procedure friend member patron proper department If department start tracing relaton until found someone category knows someone until circuitous route established contact department Your contact contact influential friends until matter eventually arranged If outside system members class without patron money chances getting anything through proper channels almost A foreigner outsider money despac hante agent through personal contacts knowledgefWhere little money would enough overcome problems standing gaining papers granting contracts There instances Brazil regulations which become complex almost impossible follo knows It appear relatively matter simplify procedures could followed efficiently serve people adequately Brazilians concerned They unsnare emselves problem resolved forget might trouble They sympathy particular problem bureaucracy would reason ctange system which creates justices A example Brazilian attitude Brazilian character notice neighbor Yi visiting professor Columbia University tried papers necessary leave Brazil after months exchange University Guanabara For almost month without despachan again stand other contend With stipulation exceedingly complex procedure Every afternoon return villa furious system retire typewriter release frustrations account absurdities He threatened country would outpourin proper authorities things In received carbon beautifully satirical account suffering elegantly phrased suggestion Brazilian authorities would others their country might little something procedure easier getting Copies letter Brazilia Ambassador United States Immigration Customs people Brazilian American_embassies With great curiosity I enquired friends embassy Rio letter received Brazilians They loved I It beautiful piece witing rased witty There actually having published Are going anything about suggestions I enquired I complete disbelief I could naive Of course This Brazilian apathy proper fatalistic narcissism Argentina Nor their optimism similar great moving force Chile Perhaps because Brazilians still rural minded exceedingly tolerant their status great expectations In country their reliance respect local patron continues T Lynn Smith _Brazi People and_I itutions points while growing restlessness among agricultural workers Northeast until recently aerage Cabolo farmer probably never entertained moment thought someday might operate small In cities particularly Sao Paulo where workers achieved certain mobility become increasing class conscious docile But whole strangely going faced North American would oonsider intolerable prospects advancement security In meantime people particularly lower classes steam Carnival dance which prepare Samba schools throughout And participate sports there always soccer kicked watched florin There satsfyin various Afro Christian cults brning excitement those participate those watch There perpetual numbers All every lottery booths street corners Brazilians problems their country large complex solved The deree feeling varies dfierent parts country there bustle about solvin Rio Northeast Americanized Paulo Ro I guess particular quality Brazilians apart their neighbors their saving grace their greatest deterrent progress their flexibility Things never black white Brazil rather kaleidoscope color which adjust chameleons Brazilians proud their country Catholc country world offers freedom farthest Catholc Jew Positivist follower various Afro Christian They proud their multi racial heritage dscriminaton still exist probably offer other country place where races harmony They adjusted history inflation merely ceasing their money Money saved money exchange balloons So estate televisio anyting w_ich lttle little month titus solving their individual problem leaving someone worry about stopping terrify economic spiral They adjust their government somewat The military their conscience battling corruption government In March great poorer people intellectuals upset overthrow Goulart Government ready admit flaws But along change relatively minor grumblng their constitution being uDheld They remained constitutional through years learned adjust slightly different situations stead overthro every dramatic change So while times rtioned democracy never completely their democratic birthright Just another example keeps Brazil going Brazil situation becomes intolerable laughed Caught seriousness laugh image In Ro whatever problem laugh short difficult upset better beach Prom brief facile summary ABC powers Latin America country shares characteristics other degree The similarities particularly distinct JCB areas which Catholic Church patriarchal society played mportant development colonization father fgure ersonalsm aternalsm extent apathy nefficiency regard importance But country interplay geography people clmate other added color dimension dfferen presents world While possible generalze Latin Amerc problems vtally pattern dealings country sound understandin particular personl needs Sncerely yours James C Brewer Received New York August