programa de pós-graduação em desenvolvimento regional - Unisc

ABSTRACT
This study had the purpose of investigating the political articulations established by regional
elites, as well as their contribution to the process of economic development in the counties of
Passo Fundo and Carazinho, between 1930 and 1945, the so called “Vargas Era”. The
hypothesis raised to guide the research was based on the assumption that the political elites
delimitated their sphere of power through the economic power. Likewise, a demonstration
that those who represented the economic forces in the surveyed counties were those
influential in the regional political life, occupying important positions and indicated by the
political parties that supported Getulio Vargas in his political trajectory. Contextually, the
focus lies on the regional elites, a small group of people who had the political control of the
society and also the control of the main economic organizations. Considering that the study
looked for an historical explanation of the role of the political elites, we decided to use the
hypothetical-deductive method. For this, we searched different sources, like newspapers,
telegrams, reports from the Business Associations, life histories, biographies and historical
archives. The members of the political elite during the study period were determined
according to the frequency their names appeared on the material searched. Through this
technique we compiled the members of the political elite in the State of Rio Grnde do Sul, as
well as in the counties of Passo Fundo and Carazinho, during the study period (1930 – 1945).
The conclusion points to the confirmation of the hypothesis that the political elite was part of
the institutional context in a direct or indirect way. It held key and confidential positions in
political parties which supported the government, especially the federal government, while the
economic elites were active in various sectors of society, outstanding in different occupations
and professions. Thus, the inter-relationship between these two elites allowed the political
elite to influence different sectors of society, distributing resources and representing the
interests of the economic elite, which gave them support through the rendering of favors,
placing political “affiliates” in public functions and other similar actions. The model of State
proposed by Vargas, developmental and interventionist in essence, was useful for both the
political elites and the economic elites, which is shown along the thesis for the selected
historical period.
Keywords: Political elites. Economic elites. Power. Regional development.
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