Dread and Agony in Pernambuco: international guerrilla action, press and government agreements (Brazil-Portugal, 1961-1970)

ação guerrilheira internacional, imprensa e acordos governamentais (Brasil- Portugal, 1961-1970)

Abstract

The research investigates oppositional actions against Portuguese Salazarism in Brazilian territory, from 1961-1970, with the purpose of problematizing the concept of madness applied to a political event. Specifically, it seeks to understand the hijacking of the ship “Santa Maria” and its developments, which occurred on January 21, 1961, under the command of the Iberian Revolutionary Directorate of Liberation. It thus starts from identifying the actions carried out by the commanders of the “military operation”, to analyze the affective and symbolic dimensions of the event.  The approach is based on theoretical-methodological resources defined by Political History, focusing on the implications of the relationships between politics and emotions, to understand the political trajectories of its main protagonists, particularly during conflicts and negotiations with the Portuguese, Brazilian and North Americans, in the episode that led to the hijacking of the transatlantic “Santa Maria”, classified as a luxury and ostentatious vessel, during the government of Antônio de Oliveira Salazar (President of the Council of Ministers). The main source is the mainstream press, focusing on the analysis of the periodicals Diário de Pernambuco and Estado de S. Paulo, as well as historical documents from the National Archives of Torre do Tombo.