BRASIL REPÚBLICA - O INTEGRALISMO

Summary

This video discusses the rise of Integralism in Brazil during the 1930s, led by intellectual Plínio Salgado. The movement, heavily influenced by European fascism, sought to establish a strong national identity and rejected liberal democracy. The video highlights the movement's origins in the 1920s literary debates, Salgado's visit to Italy, and his admiration for Mussolini. It also explores the organizational structure, the adoption of fascist-style symbols, and the eventual rise of the Ação Integralista Brasileira in 1932. The video details the movement's growth, its eventual conflict with Getúlio Vargas, and the aftermath, including its decline post-WWII.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Integralism movement was a nationalist political movement that emerged in Brazil in the 1930s, led by Plínio Salgado, aiming to define a cohesive Brazilian identity.
• 😀 Integralism was influenced by the intellectual debates of the 1920s, particularly the Modernist movement, and Salgado's interactions with fascist ideologies during a trip to Italy.
• 😀 The movement was marked by its adoption of fascist symbols, including the green shirt, the Sigma symbol, and fascist-inspired uniforms and rituals.
• 😀 Integralism's key ideological pillars included nationalism, anti-communism, and a belief in a strong, hierarchical society centered around the figure of a national leader.
• 😀 Salgado’s exposure to Mussolini and Italian fascism in 1930 played a critical role in shaping the movement's fascist tendencies, which were reflected in its structure and rhetoric.
• 😀 The Integralists sought to unite Brazil's fragmented nationalist movements, including regional far-right groups, under a single national identity.
• 😀 One of the primary motivations for joining the movement was a strong aversion to communism, which many Integralists saw as a threat to Brazil’s stability and identity.
• 😀 The movement's growth in the early 1930s was facilitated by the political instability in Brazil, following the 1930 Revolution and the economic crisis caused by the 1929 Great Depression.
• 😀 Integralism attempted to position itself as a major political force, culminating in Plínio Salgado's 1938 coup attempt, which failed and led to the movement’s suppression under Vargas' regime.
• 😀 After WWII, the movement struggled to regain its power due to the discrediting of fascist ideologies globally, particularly due to the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany during the war.

Q & A

What was the integralist movement in Brazil, and when did it emerge?

The integralist movement was a far-right nationalist movement that emerged in Brazil in the 1930s. It was the first mass political movement in the country, founded by Plínio Salgado in 1932, and was inspired by fascist ideologies, particularly those of Benito Mussolini in Italy.

How did Plínio Salgado’s intellectual background influence the creation of the integralist movement?

Plínio Salgado, a writer and intellectual, was influenced by debates on Brazilian identity in the 1920s, especially through the modernist movement. His interest in Brazil’s rural, interior regions and the works of Euclides da Cunha, particularly 'Os Sertões,' shaped his vision of a strong, nationalist Brazil, which ultimately influenced the creation of the integralist movement.

What was the significance of Plínio Salgado’s trip to Italy in 1930 for the integralist movement?

During his trip to Italy in 1930, Plínio Salgado met with Benito Mussolini, the Italian fascist leader. This encounter deeply influenced Salgado, and he became an admirer of Mussolini's fascism, which played a key role in shaping the ideology of the integralist movement in Brazil.

What were the core ideas that defined the integralist movement?

The integralist movement was characterized by its search for a Brazilian national identity, its admiration for fascist ideologies, and its emphasis on unity, discipline, and hierarchy. It promoted the values of 'God, Homeland, Family' and sought to reject liberalism and communism.

What were the key symbols and practices associated with the integralist movement?

Integralists used green shirts as uniforms, mirroring the black shirts of Italian fascists. They adopted the 'Sigma' symbol, representing unity, and held highly disciplined marches, parades, and rallies. Their salutation, 'Anauê,' symbolized unity and brotherhood, further connecting them to fascist traditions.

How did the integralist movement interact with other far-right groups in Brazil?

The integralist movement managed to unite several smaller far-right nationalist groups in Brazil, including the Legião Cearense do Trabalho and the Partido Nacional Sindicalista. These groups were regional and fragmented, but under Salgado's leadership, they were consolidated into a larger national movement.

What role did the economic and political crises of the 1930s play in the rise of the integralist movement?

The economic crisis of 1929, followed by the Great Depression, led to doubts about the effectiveness of liberal regimes worldwide. This crisis, along with the rise of authoritarian regimes in Europe, created an environment conducive to the growth of far-right movements like integralism, which offered an alternative to liberalism and communism.

What led to the decline of the integralist movement in the late 1930s?

The decline of the integralist movement occurred after its failed attempt to stage a coup in May 1938. The movement was heavily repressed by Getúlio Vargas’s government, which had already been in power since 1930. Many integralists were arrested or exiled, and the movement was effectively dismantled.

How did the integralist movement attempt to re-organize after World War II?

After World War II, the integralists reorganized under the banner of the Partido de Representação Popular, led by Plínio Salgado. However, their political influence diminished significantly, as the association with fascism, particularly the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany, made their ideology less appealing in the post-war context.

What were the key motivations of individuals who joined the integralist movement, according to surveys conducted in the 1960s?

According to surveys conducted in the 1960s, the key motivations for joining the integralist movement in the 1930s were a strong anti-communist sentiment, a desire for a strong national identity, and a sympathy for European fascism. These motivations were critical in recruiting and maintaining support for the movement during its peak.