The global constitution of the Brazilian nation: Issues concerning immigration in the 1930s and 40s

Abstract

This article shows that the concept of nation and nationalist interpretations were at the heart of discourses about immigration in Brazil in the 1930s and 40s. These national references cannot, however, be comprehended unless they are seen from a global perspective. The historical actors were engaged in scientific debates that were circulating around the globe, and they were also aware of the international nature of the subject. I intend to demonstrate these hypotheses with the help of two examples: the sociology of migration in Brazil, and the discourses of German-speaking immigrants to Brazil.