Identité culturelle et identité nationale au Brésil

Abstract

In this study of knowledge sociology, the author deals with the question of cultural identity in Brazil in a historical perspective. In the 19th century, the variety of cultural Brazilian inheritances is recognized, but it stumbles – at a theoretical level – over the postulate of cultural homogeneity and – at an ideological level – over the latent bioracism of the elites. In the early 20th century, while a theoretical work of reformulation of the notion of culture as a synthesis of several influences is being processed, a new Afro-Brazilian religion is spreading in S.E. cities, those two presenting a similarity of structure and function. The author highlights the links between the transformation of Brazilian society on one side and cultural, intellectual or religious productions on the other side. The she shows that if in Europe, cultural identity and national identity mean two different realities, due to the construction of the Nation-State, in Brazil the cultural identity is the foundation of national identity.