Les disciples de la « mission française » et la réception de l’anthropologie structurale au Brésil

Abstract

This article aims at understanding the introduction of structural anthropology in Brazil at the end of the sixties in the light of the controversy on kinship theory that opposed David Maybury-Lewis to Claude Lévi-Strauss. It relates conceptual and methodological innovations to the institutionalization of PhD programs, thus opening perspectives on the professionalization at a larger scale. In order to explicit the efficiency of the alliance of the PPGAS/MN “founding fathers”, the author first reviews their social and intellectual paths based on diverse social capital, careers and prestige. The study of the PPGAS archives allows to shed light on the expectations as well as strategies of the “founding fathers” at the time when they approached the Ford Foundation in order to obtain financing for high level teaching as well as regular field-word. The study of the social and intellectual characteristics of the different participants in the international controversies allows us to understand how international power relationships do influence the evolution of systems of thought.

Keywords

• International circulation of ideas
• Structural anthropology
• High level doctoral education
• Scientific controversy
• Reception of Lévi-Strauss in Brazil