Da concepção imperial de Gilberto Freyre

Luiz Feldman

Abstract

This paper argues that Gilberto Freyre’s “lusotropicalism” was not limited to his support for Portuguese colonialism, but rather encompassed the establishment of a Luso-Brazilian imperial federation spanning Portuguese colonies in the Atlantic, Africa, and Asia. Freyre’s “imperial vision” from 1937 to 1962 is presented in four of its aspects: first, the author’s ambivalence toward the virtues and vices of British primacy; second, his regard of Portuguese colonization as the source of Lusitanian exceptionalism in world affairs; third, his view of the vices and decay of Portugal as an imperial power; fourth, his case for Brazilian participation in the maintenance of a Pax Lusitana within a binational imperial commonwealth.

View Full Text

Resumo

Abstract

This paper argues that Gilberto Freyre’s “lusotropicalism” was not limited to his support for Portuguese colonialism, but rather encompassed the establishment of a Luso-Brazilian imperial federation spanning Portuguese colonies in the Atlantic, Africa, and Asia. Freyre’s “imperial vision” from 1937 to 1962 is presented in four of its aspects: first, the author’s ambivalence toward the virtues and vices of British primacy; second, his regard of Portuguese colonization as the source of Lusitanian exceptionalism in world affairs; third, his view of the vices and decay of Portugal as an imperial power; fourth, his case for Brazilian participation in the maintenance of a Pax Lusitana within a binational imperial commonwealth.

View Full Text

This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.

Purchase access

You may purchase access to this article. This will require you to create an account if you don't already have one.