Fronteira, capitalismo, democracia: Estados Unidos e Brasil (séculos XIX e XX)

Abstract

The overall objective of this dissertation is to analyze the interpretations built on the concepts of frontier, capitalism and democracy, from the works of some intellectuals who have studied the subject, applying these concepts to their respective models, in this case, refers to the USA case and the Brazilian case. The specific objectives involve describing Frederick Jackson Turner's concept of frontier, based on his most famous essay, The Significance of the Frontier in American History; analyzing how Turner develops the concept of democracy, based on the social relations established at the frontier; identifying the authors who have studied the issue, analyzing their works in the context in which they were produced, seeking reference in the work of Brazilian authors who have studied the subject of the frontier and of democracy, among them, Otávio Velho, José de Souza Martins, Cassiano Ricardo, as well as observing how the capitalist development took place in Brazil, from labor relations engendered at the frontier, following the assumptions of the works of Otávio Velho and José de Souza Martins. The work is theoretically grounded on the methodology of the Conceptual History in dialogue with History of Ideas, intending to point out the relationship between these authors, the context in which their works were produced and how is possible the production of knowledge from the analysis of interpretations of the expansion process of the frontier in the United States and on Brazil, and how these interpretations form the basis for the construction of ideas on the development of democracy and capitalism in these two countries