Global Power Asymmetries and the International Circulation of Brazilian Sociologists (1964-1985)

The institutionalization of social sciences in Brazil, like other Global South nations, has been shaped by global power asymmetries. This paper examines the impact of these asymmetries on the international circulation of Brazilian sociologists during the military dictatorship (1964-1985). By analyzing the development of science, technology, and postgraduate training structures, the study explores how global influences shaped Brazil’s academic landscape. A quantitative analysis of 176 Brazilian sociologists who pursued postgraduate studies abroad during this period is presented, complemented by 15 interviews to uncover influential factors. The findings reveal that knowledge asymmetries deeply affected institution-building in Brazil’s social sciences, fostering dependency and marginalization. Between 1964 and 1975, U.S. influence and foreign funding, such as from the Ford Foundation, dominated postgraduate training. From 1975 to 1985, national agencies like CAPES and CNPq became more prominent, though flows continued primarily toward the Global North. Key factors shaping academic trajectories included limited access to local postgraduate programs, reliance on Northern institutions, and gender-based social roles. Scholars from 1964-1975 relied more on informal networks for funding, while those from 1975-1985 benefited from stronger national support. The combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches allows a deeper understanding of how global power structures shaped academic training, emphasizing how Brazil's social sciences were influenced by external dependence, particularly from the U.S. This paper presents new perspectives for the study of the history of social sciences in Brazil by incorporating digital sociology research methodologies, which enable the quantification of international intellectual flows. This work offers a methodological and theoretical contribution to understanding the history of social sciences in Brazil, highlighting the role of international intellectual networks and global power relations.