Imagining nation, envisioning progress: emperor, agricultural elites, and imperial ministers in search of engineers in 19th century Brazil

Abstract

This study shows how the development of engineering schools in 19th century Brazil is intimately linked with images of nation and visions of progress held by social actors who materialized these into engineering schools, curricula, and graduates. The study proposes that theories of nation present interesting conceptual and empirical challenges for engineering studies scholars by inviting us to explain the emergence and preeminence of engineering education in relationship to the emergence of nation. The article shows that in 19th century Brazil there were a number of competing images and corresponding visions of progress that significantly shaped the development of Brazil's engineering education institutions. One such image was championed by the Emperor Pedro II who wanted to reaffirm Brazil as a civilized empire on par with France and the US. Another was defended by regional elites and defined in terms of agricultural development of their local regions. A third one was endorsed by an alliance of imperial ministers and business entrepreneurs who viewed Brazil as a future industrial nation. During Brazil's Second Empire (1840–1889), no image became dominant. Yet each one materialized in a different kind of engineering education, including curricula, institutions, and graduates and set trajectories for Brazilian engineering education from late 19th century well into the 20th. Finally, this study invites engineering education reformers and policymakers to consider the importance of images of nation and visions of progress for engineering education in order to effectively strategize in their reform and policy initiatives.