60 years since the 1964 coup in Brazil | Interview with Rodrigo Patto Sá Motta

Abstract

Rodrigo Patto Sá Motta, a professor at UFMG, discusses the 60th anniversary of the 1964 coup, highlighting the politicization of the issue due to the rise of the far-right in Brazil, especially under the Bolsonaro government. He notes that this movement has promoted a nostalgic view of the military regime, complicating the work of historians and professors, who face threats and censorship. Patto emphasizes the importance of rigorous historiography to combat disinformation and fake news. Regarding the archives of the dictatorship, he highlights the richness of the Brazilian collection, but laments the inaccessibility of crucial documents, such as those from the Army Information Center, suggesting the need for political pressure to make them public. Regarding Transitional Justice, Patto criticizes its timid approach, which prioritizes symbolic reparations instead of punishing those responsible, complicating progress due to military pressure. He also analyzes contemporary militarization, explaining that the legacy of the dictatorship and public insecurity contributed to the revaluation of the military and its values. The rise of Bolsonarism has strengthened this trend, with the military once again taking public power, highlighting continuities between the authoritarian past and current political issues in Brazil.