Career Patterns and Attitudes of Military-Political Elites in Brazil: Similarity and Continuity, 1964-1975

Abstract

In this paper a narrow but intensive elite study is made which attempts to: (1) examine the types of individuals recruited into the Brazilian executive; (2) make a theoretical elaboration of the goals and expectations of the Brazilian executive; and (3) explore the linkage between and develop testable propositions dealing with socio-professional backgrounds and political attitudes of the post-1964 Brazilian executive. The study is organized around two basic sets of data-indicators of socio-professional background for the Presidents and their cabinets from 1964 to 1975; and an analysis of a sample of the major speeches made by the various Presidents of Brazil during that time frame. The data are analyzed and lead to three general conclusions. First, there is a weak linkage between social background and career development and specialization. At the same time, there is probably at least a weak linkage between career development and specialization and political attitudes. Moreover, there is probably a significant relationship between political attitudes and behavior. Second, individuals recruited into the Brazilian executive tend to strongly adhere to the managerial modernizer model; and, if individuals with these socio-professional background characteristics, in fact, define a modernizing regime - the Brazilian executive is so organized. Third and last, the Brazilian executive has consistently articulated a set of goals and expectations that revolve around the major theme of development and national well-being. The definitions and resultant political philosophy are relatively simple and straightforward. First, development and well-being mean economic modernization and the propulsion of Brazil into major world power status. Second, the military is the only entity in Brazil that has the right to educate and/or provide the personnel to define, create, and enforce what the armed forces consider the proper political, economic, and social policies and programs. It appears to us that what we have suggested above conforms to the present realities of power and society in Brazil.