Gilberto Freyre e o Estado Novo: a trajetória de uma relação ambígua

RESUMO

Em 1937, Gilberto Freyre participou da campanha de José Américo de Almeida para presidente da República como intelectual responsável por traduzir as ideias do regionalismo para os eleitores mediante a imprensa. A atitude indicava publicamente sua preferência emum momento de profundos confrontos ideológicos ele aderiu à campanha eleitoral do candidato que defendia os interesses da classe agroexportadora perante o Estado. Acontece que, com o fim do pleito decorrente do golpe de Getúlio Vargas e a instauração do EstadoNovo, o sociólogo passou a preparar, com muita habilidade política, sua transição para o apoio ao regime autoritário, isto é, aproximou-se da elite do regime recém-instaurado para negociar o discurso da brasilidadeconstruído paulatinamente em sua obra históricosociológica. Desse modo, ele pôde negociar interesses diretamente com a elite do governo Vargas. Com os acordos resultantes desse negócio, regionalismo e nacionalismo se tornaram o denominador comum de um mesmo conceito de “cultura brasileira”, caracterizado, sobretudo, pela diversidade como elemento positivo do “povo”. Os nexos entre região e nação foram repensados do ponto de vista do mesmo conceito. Entretanto, em 1945, o pacto celebrado entre as partes,embora parecesse consolidado institucionalmente, sofreu interrupções com a luta nacional pela deposiçãodo ditador. Neste texto procuro, com base em livros, cartas e artigos de jornal escritos pelo sociólogo, reconstruir os acontecimentos que marcaram a trajetória de Gilberto Freyre em relação ao Estado Novo.(AU)

ABSTRACT

In 1937, Gilberto Freyre took part in the campaign to elect José Américo de Almeida as President of the Republic, assuming the role of intellectual responsible for translating the ideas of regionalism to voters through the press. His approach was a clear public demonstration of his preference at a time of profound ideological turmoil he adhered to the election campaign of a candidate who sought to defend theinterests of agricultural exporters before the State. However, with the election being cut short as a result of the coup by Getúlio Vargas and the setting up of the New State, the sociologist soon began preparing, with considerable political skill, his transition to supporting the new authoritarian regime. In other words, he sought a closer relationship with the elite of the newly-installed regime, with the idea of negotiatingits adoption of the discourse on Brazilianness that had gradually taken shape within his historical-sociologicalwork. He was thus able to negotiate these interests directly with the senior members of the Vargas government. Thanks to the resulting agreements of this negotiation, regionalism and nationalism became the common denominator of a single concept of “Brazilian culture” that was characterized, above all, by diversity as a positive element of the “people”.The bonds between region and nation were revised from the point of view of a single concept. Nevertheless, in 1945,the pact signed between the various parties involved, while seemingly consolidated institutionally, was repeatedly broken as a result of the national struggle that ensued to deposethe dictator. This work has sought, by means of a review of the books, and newspaper letters and articles written by the sociologist, to reconstruct the events that marked Gilberto Freyres experiences in relation to the New State.(AU)