An organic intellectual in Salazar’s New State: António Ferro's ideas and projects for luso-brazilianness

Abstract

Among the projects to bring closer and strengthen Portuguese-Brazilian relation undertaken by intellectuals since the end of the nineteenth century, this article seeks to analyze António Ferro’s proposals, as well as the results of his efforts, in the period between 1933 and 1949. Director of the National Propaganda Bureau which conducted all Portuguese cultural activity, Ferro invested heavily in the cultural relations between Salazar’ and Getúlio Vargas Estados Novos (New States), in particular through the three means examined here: the Luso-Brazilian Cultural Agreement, the “Plan for a lusitanity campaign throughout America, especially in Brazil” and the Luso-Brazilian Cultural Convention. The article seeks to unveil the reasons for the (relative) failure of Ferro’s strategy of luso-brazilianness, framing it in the context of the international conflict of World War II.