INTEGRALISM
Integralism refers to the Fascist movement in Brazil. The Aςao Integralista Brasileira, founded in 1932 by the novelist Plιnio Salgado, represented the Brazilian version of fascism.
Yet, while European fascism was based on the idea of a superior and pure (Aryan and Roman) race, Brazilian fascism was founded on the concept of integralism. Because of Brazil’s history as a country of European immigrants, the nationalism represented by integralism had to be based on an inclusive melting-pot concept. However, it was a Lusitian-dominated melting pot. Because religion occupied a central position in Brazilian society, integralism was characterized by a strong religious overtone. Although the leaders of the Aςao Integralista Brasileira welcomed both Protestantism and Catholicism, they preferred Catholicism. This is the reason why Protestant pastors rejected and opposed in- tegralism. They feared Catholic domination in the future integral state. Furthermore, the melting-pot concept of the integralism movement came into conflict with the Brazilian Lutheran notion of German superiority.The Brazilian Fascist movement— with its green uniforms, armbands with an S (Sigma), the salute with raised hand, the liturgy, the leader principle—replicated Italian fascism and German Nazism. Like its German counterpart, the Aςao Integral- ista Brasileira participated in national and state elections to gain power by legal means. However, in contrast to the German NSDAP, the Brazilian Fascists were unsuccessful in national elections during the 1930s. In 1935 and 1936, the Aςao In- tegralista managed to gain modest support in local elections by which members were elected into municipal councils. It even succeeded in the election of municipal prefects. At this point the party claimed to have a membership of about 1 million people (the total of Brazil’s population was 40 million) (IBGE 1943).
In 1934 the Aςao Integralista Brasileira began creating membership organizations in the inner part of Brazil. The party found many followers in the provinces of Sao Paulo, Bahia, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul. Many of the German Brazilians in Santa Catarina joined or voted for the Fascists. In Santa Catarina, eight prefects and seventy- two municipal councilors were members of the Fascist party—most of them had German last names. In Rio Grande do Sul, with its many German immigrant families, the Fascist party was not as successful as in Santa Catarina. However, it became obvious that they had more followers in the German and Italian Brazilian settlements than in the Luso-Brazilian settlements.
Contemporaries explained the strength of the party among descendents of German immigrants by citing insufficient German assimilation into Brazilian society and culture. According to this view, Germans tended to identify with National Socialism and its perceived Brazilian version: integralism. Yet, such an explanation does not take into account the resistance of Lutheran pastors against integralism and the distinction between National Socialism and integralism. The German National Socialists were very reluctant to officially support or recognize Brazilian integralism because the German government was afraid that such a political stance would jeopardize the economic relations between Nazi Germany and the government of Getulio Vargas.
The Aςao Integralista Brasileira, however, expanded after Getulio Vargas seized power in 1930. Vargas did not perceive this party as a danger to his new government and the party continued to participate in elections. This changed on November 10, 1937, when Vargas declared the creation of the Estado Novo. On December 2 of the same year, Vargas banned all political parties and cancelled the national elections scheduled for the beginning of 1938. In May 1938 Brazilian Fascists attempted to depose Vargas and seize power. The putsch failed and provided the basis for a systematic persecution of members of the Fascist party.
Rene Gertz
See also Brazil; Latin America, Nazi Party in; Latin America and Nazi Economic Policy
References and Further Reading
Gertz, Rene E. Politische Auswirkungen der deutschen Einwanderung in Sudbrasilien: Die Deutschstammigen und die faschistischen Stromungen in den 30er Jahren. Berlin: Freie Universitat Berlin, 1980.
------. O fascismo no sul do Brasil. Porto Alegre: Mercado Aberto, 1987.
Instituto Brasileiro de Estatιstica—Brazilian Institute for Statistics, IBGE. Censo demogrdfico de 1940. Rio de Janeiro: IBGE, 1943.