Diagnosis of the Brazilian Crisis delves into the complexities of Brazil’s socio-economic challenges during a turbulent period of its history, offering a critical perspective on the role and responsibility of intellectuals in times of national crisis. The author explores the betrayal of intellectual responsibility—through both action and inaction—by those capable of providing clarity and foresight amid political and social upheaval. With a sharp critique of the misuse of experimental science for political ends and the failure of social scientists to prevent detrimental public policies, the work underscores the unique responsibility of intellectuals to rise above societal constraints and champion rationality and human dignity.

Compiled in the immediate aftermath of a near-declaration of emergency in Brazil in 1963, the essays in this volume attempt to dissect the roots of underdevelopment and the causes of Brazil’s crisis. Through a blend of urgency and rigor, the author examines the role of group loyalties, cultural ties, and intellectual ethics in shaping national progress. With a focus on Brazil’s specific struggles, Diagnosis of the Brazilian Crisis is both a call to action for intellectuals and a framework for understanding the broader implications of underdevelopment and societal responsibility.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1965.

Translated by: Suzette Macedo