Transnational violations: diplomacy, collaboration, and repression against spanish (1936-1939)

Abstract

In this article we will analyze the participation of the Spanish diplomacy in repression acts practiced by Vargas’ authorities against Spanish citizens in Brazil, over the period between 1936 and 1939, which led to human rights violations. By means of the critical reading of correspondence exchanged between ex-public servants of the State Ministry of Spain, who were representatives of the nationalist government in Brazil, and of reports and instructions produced by the political police of the State of São Paulo (DEOPS/SP), we evaluate the effectiveness of the strategy used by Spanish diplomats meant to annihilate their enemies. We assert that the repressive actions were closely connected to the political persecution that took place in Spain at the time and were conjointly carried out by Brazilian and Spanish public agents, thus passing over the Spanish frontiers so as to reach citizens from that country in Brazilian territory.

Keywords

• brasil. diplomacia. espanha. repressão. transnacionalidade.