Warfare as an instrument of Brazilian imperial politics in the Plata Basin (1852-1858)

Authors

  • Jéssica de Freitas e Gonzaga da Silva Fundação Getúlio Vargas, CPDOC – Escola de Ciências Sociais, Edifício Luiz Simões Lopes, Sede – Praia de Botafogo, 190, 14º Andar. 22.250-900 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2982-341X

Abstract

How did the war become a political instrument of the Brazilian Empire toreach its objectives in the Plata Basin, contributing to the strengthening of the NationalState? The article is based on research on the cases of the war against Oribe and Rosas(1851-1852) and the political conflict with Paraguay between the years of 1852 and1858, through a theoretical-methodological approach of the critical discourse analysisof documents produced by Brazilian diplomats, among which we highlight Paulino JoséSoares de Souza, José Maria da Silva Paranhos and José Maria do Amaral. As a result, itis found that segments of the Brazilian elite were responsible for creating a discourse withwhich they legitimized the right to make war, forging an identity and a social reality inwhich the Empire of Brazil resorted to war for the sake of the preservation of civilizationand the maintenance of peace, which in turn, within the discourse, represents a state inwhich Brazilian interests such as territory, free navigation and power are achieved.

Author Biography

Jéssica de Freitas e Gonzaga da Silva, Fundação Getúlio Vargas, CPDOC – Escola de Ciências Sociais, Edifício Luiz Simões Lopes, Sede – Praia de Botafogo, 190, 14º Andar. 22.250-900 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2982-341X

 

Pesquisadora da Fundação Casa de Rui Barbosa Doutorada pelo Programa de Pós Graduação em História, Política e Bens Culturais da Fundação Getúlio Vargas. Mestrado em Estudos Marítimos pela Escola de Guerra Naval. Graduação em História pela Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2982-341X

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Published

2019-10-21

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 3 (2019): September/December

Section

Dossier

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