Latin America and the Soviet Imagination: Brazilian Historiography of Russia, 1920–1970

Abstract

Although geographically distant, Brazil maintained a sustained intellectual and cultural engagement with Russia and the Soviet Union throughout the twentieth century. This article explores how Brazilian historians, writers, and political activists interpreted Russian and Soviet history between 1920 and 1970. Using Portuguese-language newspapers, academic publications, and cultural journals, the study investigates the reception of Russian revolutionary ideals in Brazil’s political and intellectual life.
The findings show that the Russian Revolution resonated strongly with Brazilian labor movements and leftist intellectuals, who saw parallels between Russia’s struggle for modernization and Brazil’s own aspirations for social transformation. Soviet achievements in education, industrialization, and science were frequently cited as models for Brazil, particularly in the 1930s and 1940s. However, conservative voices in Brazilian politics and Catholic intellectual circles framed the Soviet Union as a symbol of atheism and moral decline, fueling polarized interpretations that shaped public discourse.
The article argues that Brazilian historiography of Russia was part of a broader Latin American engagement with global revolutionary traditions. It demonstrates how Russian and Soviet history was selectively adapted to Brazil’s national context, where debates over modernization, inequality, and democracy were ongoing. The research also highlights the role of cultural exchanges—such as film screenings, book translations, and visits by Soviet delegations—in shaping popular perceptions.
By situating Brazilian historiography within global debates on socialism and modernization, this study contributes to comparative histories of revolutionary reception. It underscores that even in regions geographically distant from Europe, the Russian and Soviet experience shaped intellectual debates and political imaginaries in profound ways.