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From Old Regime Portugal to Contemporary Brazil: Patrimonial Legacies, Aristocratic Mentalities, and the Delayed Pursuit of Scientific Advancement
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20 December 2024
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20 December 2024
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Abstract
This article examines the insights of Portuguese historian Vitorino Magalhães Godinho regarding the extraordinary 18th-century concentration of wealth and land in Portugal’s Catholic Church and nobility—estimated at around 95%—and how these arrangements shaped enduring mentalities. Such structures, grounded in aristocratic privilege and clerical power, discouraged the valuation of labor and marginalized merit-based advancement. We explore how these historical patterns were transferred to Brazil, creating a persistent environment of patrimonialism, public-office impunity, and the devaluation of intellectual and scientific labor. Drawing on Godinho’s works and comparative perspectives from other contexts, as well as data on contemporary Brazilian wealth distribution, corruption cases, and structural inefficiencies in research and development, we argue that these historically ingrained mentalities have hindered Brazil’s scientific and technological progress. Through a discussion of counter-trends and reforms, we highlight potential avenues for transforming these legacies. Ultimately, we propose that recognizing and addressing the historical roots of patrimonialism is essential for fostering a culture that values productive work, upholds the rule of law, and supports scientific innovation in Brazil, a nation of over 200 million inhabitants still awaiting its first Nobel Prize in science.
Keywords:
Portugal
; Brazil
; Patrimonialism
; Nobility
; Clergy
; Corruption
; Historical Mentalities
; Scientific Advancement
; Public Office
; Vitorino Magalhã
; es Godinho
Diversity Competence and Social Inequalities
Section 1. Introduction
Eighteenth-century Portugal was a society under the sway of an entrenched aristocracy and a powerful Catholic Church, both of which held vast tracts of land and exerted pervasive influence over political, economic, and cultural life. As the Portuguese historian Vitorino Magalhães Godinho notes, “In the old Portuguese society, land and wealth were largely concentrated in the hands of the clergy and nobility, reaching about 95% of the landed property” (Godinho, 1982, p. 45). This extraordinary concentration of wealth was not merely an economic arrangement; it institutionalized a set of “mentalities” that, in Godinho’s words, “they discouraged productive work and the valorization of merit, replacing them with inheritance, status and privilege” (Godinho, 1982, p. 113).
By “mentalities,” we refer to the deep-seated cultural frames that shape how societies value work, assess social hierarchies, and perceive entitlement to power and resources. These mentalities, as Braudel (1979) and others have emphasized, often persist longer than political regimes or economic cycles. In the Portuguese ancien régime, the Church and nobility did not simply own land; they established norms that celebrated lineage and divine rights over innovation and critical inquiry. Under these conditions, manual labor, and even intellectual labor outside ecclesiastical domains, fell under a shadow of disdain. Public office, rather than a responsibility or civic duty, offered a pathway to quasi-aristocratic status—granted not by merit, but by connections, patronage, and the ability to navigate a patrimonial state apparatus.
Section 1. Comparing Different Environments
This environment had profound consequences for broader social development. Without incentives to appreciate or engage in productive labor, creative enterprise, or empirical inquiry, Portuguese society lagged behind more dynamic European counterparts in terms of scientific and technological progress. While England, for instance, nurtured a class of merchants and eventually industrialists who valued innovation—contributing to the eventual Industrial Revolution—Portugal’s aristocratic and clerical elites remained wary of transformations that might disrupt their traditional privileges. As Godinho states, “A ausência de uma burguesia dinâmica e a ausência de apoio sistemático ao trabalho intelectual contribuíram para o atraso científico e cultural do país” (Godinho, 1982, p. 152).
Crucially, these patterns of aristocratic mentality and land concentration were not confined to Portugal’s European shores. They were transplanted across the Atlantic to Brazil, a colony that would eventually become an independent empire and then a republic, yet continually struggle with the legacies of its colonial-era institutions. During colonial times, large landed estates—fazendas—replicated the Portuguese model of wealth without broad-based productivity, relying heavily on slave labor. Clerical influence and noble titles adapted to local conditions, creating a society in which administrative positions, known as “cargos públicos,” echoed the old regime’s ethos of power bestowed from above.
According to Faoro (1975), the Portuguese Crown established a patrimonial state in Brazil, whereby the apparatus of governance resembled an extension of a royal household rather than an impartial bureaucracy. Public offices became “bens de família” (family assets), to be passed down or traded through networks of patronage rather than earned through demonstrated competence. This patrimonial inheritance stifled the development of a consistent meritocratic ethos and diminished respect for work, innovation, and scientific inquiry. While other nations gradually opened institutions that encouraged empirical research and recognized scientific achievement, the Brazilian elite often regarded knowledge as subservient to the consolidation of power.
The enduring effects of these mentalities on Brazil are particularly salient when examining the country’s scientific and technological landscape. Despite being the world’s sixth-most populous nation with over 200 million inhabitants, Brazil has yet to produce a Nobel Prize laureate in the sciences. This fact alone is not a definitive measure of scientific stagnation, but it symbolizes deeper issues: the underfunding of research and development, a fragile academic ecosystem subject to political interference, and a general under-appreciation for scientific labor that can be traced back to inherited cultural frameworks. While countries like the United States, Germany, or even small European nations have established robust traditions in science, technology, and innovation, Brazil’s legacy of aristocratic mentality and public-office patrimonialism has hindered the emergence of stable, well-supported scientific institutions.
Quantitatively, Brazil invests less in R&D as a percentage of GDP compared to many OECD countries; in 2019, Brazil’s R&D spending hovered around 1.2% of GDP, while countries like Germany invested over 3% (OECD, 2020). Furthermore, socio-economic inequalities persist: Brazil’s wealth distribution is notoriously skewed, with the top 10% holding over half of the national income (World Inequality Database, 2020). These stark inequalities reflect a society still grappling with historically entrenched patterns of privilege, reinforcing the notion that attaining positions of power or office can shield individuals from legal scrutiny, foster rent-seeking behaviors, and diminish the perceived need for scientific competitiveness.
Section 1.2. Modern Privileges
The clearest manifestation of these old regime mentalities in modern Brazil can be observed in its patterns of corruption, patronage, and immunity for public officials. Operation Car Wash (Lava Jato), launched in 2014, exposed a vast network of corruption linking politicians, state-owned enterprises, and private contractors. This scandal was not just about individual wrongdoing; it revealed systemic norms that recall the aristocratic tradition of treating public office as a personal fiefdom rather than a position of trust. While many high-profile figures were prosecuted, critics argue that these efforts have not fully dismantled the underlying mentalities that reward loyalty and status over merit and integrity. The persistent expectation that public roles provide insulation from accountability resonates directly with the eighteenth-century Portuguese model of aristocratic impunity identified by Godinho.
To understand why historical mentalities endure, we must engage with theoretical perspectives that examine longue durée historical structures. Immanuel Wallerstein (1974) and Perry Anderson (1974) propose that certain social forms persist over centuries due to structural conditions and the slow-changing nature of cultural norms. While revolutions or political reforms can alter formal institutions, mentalities—deep-rooted beliefs and values—often outlast regime changes. This perspective supports the argument that Brazilian elites, across monarchical, republican, dictatorial, and democratic regimes, continued to act as stewards of a patrimonial system rather than modern administrators of an impersonal state.
Section 1.3. Reaction
Nevertheless, critics of continuity theories warn against deterministic or reductionist explanations. They argue that while historical precedents matter, contemporary conditions—globalization, democratization, civil society activism—also shape behaviors and policies. Brazil’s complex post-1985 democracy has enabled the rise of investigative journalism, robust judicial inquiries, and massive street protests demanding accountability. These counter-trends indicate that mentalities can evolve. Civil society, activists, and some independent state institutions (such as the Public Prosecutor’s Office) have emerged as challengers to older patterns, pushing for transparency, value in intellectual labor, and modernization of the state apparatus.
Even so, the cultural undervaluation of scientific work lingers. Historically, the Portuguese nobility and clergy saw no immediate benefits in fostering scientific inquiry. As Godinho notes, “There was a lack of institutional stimulus to scientific knowledge, and the belief in tradition and religious or aristocratic authority prevailed” (Godinho, 1982, p. 201). Translated to the Brazilian context, this legacy contributed to a social milieu where scientific careers struggle to gain prestige and stable funding. Despite the presence of excellent scientists and research centers in Brazil, political instability and entrenched clientelism often prevent sustained support for long-term research agendas. The result is a country with the intellectual capacity to innovate, but lacking the cultural and institutional scaffolding that would propel it into a global leadership role in science and technology.
Comparatively, countries like England benefited from a gradual shift in mentalities. E. P. Thompson (1963) shows how the rise of a laboring class, the Industrial Revolution, and the eventual dominance of a bourgeois order engendered respect for production, ingenuity, and empirical inquiry. In contrast, Portugal, and later Brazil, lagged in industrialization and in fostering a middle class that might champion merit-based advancement, competitive enterprise, and scientific progress (Montgomery, 2024).
There are, however, signs of hope. Brazil’s cultural diversity, long history of social movements, and democratic constitution create conditions under which inherited mentalities can be challenged. Progressive educators, NGOs, and academic institutions advocate for the importance of research, critical thinking, and innovation. While European Union membership pressured Portugal to adopt certain reforms and improve governance standards, Brazil must rely on internal developments and partnerships with international organizations, universities, and think tanks. In recent years, some Brazilian agencies, such as the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), have tried to encourage scientific productivity, offering grants and support to researchers. However, these initiatives often face budget cuts and political interference, reflecting the still-precarious position of science in a society where power and privilege are historically tethered to lineage, office, and connections rather than empirical contributions.
Promoting a scientific culture that can overcome centuries-old hierarchies requires rethinking the very foundations of what society values. Instead of elevating public office as a step toward quasi-aristocratic status, reforms must shape it into a role dedicated to public service. Instead of regarding intellectual labor as secondary, educational policies must place research, innovation, and rigorous inquiry at the center of national development. This cultural reorientation also involves confronting corruption and inequality. If wealth concentration and elite impunity remain untouched, they reinforce the notion that advancement comes not from creativity or innovation but from entrenched networks of privilege.
In light of this analysis, the transfer of old Portuguese mentalities to Brazil has had profound implications for the nation’s trajectory. Unlike some other post-colonial states that developed independent cultural identities more supportive of intellectual endeavors, Brazil inherited a framework that was slow to adapt to modern imperatives. As a result, even after the transition to democracy in the late twentieth century, the underlying cultural script that undervalues systematic scientific inquiry remains partly intact.
This persistence of old regime mentalities does not fully explain Brazil’s absence from the annals of Nobel Prizes, but it contributes to an environment less conducive to producing breakthrough scientists. Securing a Nobel Prize typically requires decades of stable, well-funded research, academic freedom, and a scientific community that thrives on merit and collaboration. Brazil’s historical pattern, conversely, directs resources and prestige to those with social connections, bureaucratic posts, or political power—leaving the scientific community to struggle with uncertainty and insufficient recognition, even among Brazil’s best Universities.
Defenders of the status quo might argue that attributing current problems to eighteenth-century mentalities oversimplifies. Indeed, Brazil’s contemporary challenges are multifaceted—global economic cycles, insufficient educational reforms, and recent political turbulence all play roles. Yet the historical lens clarifies why certain pathologies persist and why certain reforms struggle. Understanding that these mentalities originated in a context where work, merit, and innovation were undervalued helps explain why efforts to build a robust scientific culture face obstacles at multiple levels: political will, cultural appreciation, and institutional stability.
As the twenty-first century advances, Brazil’s quest to become an innovation-driven economy faces stark choices. Will it continue to grapple with the vestiges of a culture that prized aristocratic titles over intellectual achievements? Or can it leverage its democratic institutions, civil society’s vigilance, and growing global partnerships to break these patterns? Acknowledging the historical roots of this cultural baggage is the first step toward change. Only by embracing a new ethos—one that values accountability, respects labor, invests in education, and celebrates scientific inquiry—can Brazil overcome the legacy that has impeded its ascent to the ranks of scientifically distinguished nations.
Section 2. Methodology
The methodology for this study involves a historical-comparative approach combined with interdisciplinary textual analysis. First, we draw on the primary and secondary works of Vitorino Magalhães Godinho, notably A Estrutura da Antiga Sociedade Portuguesa (1982), to identify key characteristics of Portuguese ancien régime structures—particularly land concentration, clerical dominance, and aristocratic privilege. We integrate direct quotations from Godinho’s scholarship to illustrate these phenomena.
Second, we conduct a comparative historical analysis to trace the institutional and cultural transfers from Portugal to Brazil. We engage with Brazilian historiographical and sociological works, such as Raymundo Faoro’s Os Donos do Poder (1975), to understand how Portuguese frameworks of nobility, clerical influence, and bureaucratic privilege were replicated and adapted in colonial and post-colonial Brazil.
Third, we include quantitative socio-economic data from contemporary Brazil—wealth distribution figures, indices of corruption (e.g., Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index), and R&D investment statistics—to link historical mentalities to modern outcomes. We also present case studies of contemporary corruption scandals (e.g., Operation Car Wash) as empirical evidence of persisting aristocratic-inspired mentalities.
Fourth, we analyze theoretical debates surrounding historical continuity, mentalities, and patrimonialism, referencing scholars such as Perry Anderson and E. P. Thompson. We also integrate critiques of deterministic historical narratives and consider the role of counter-trends and reforms in breaking long-standing patterns. Additionally, we engage with discussions on how sociocultural environments affect scientific productivity and Nobel-caliber research, thereby connecting historical mentalities to Brazil’s limited scientific achievements.
Finally, we adopt a balanced structure, beginning with a more streamlined introduction, moving through historical context and contemporary analysis, and concluding with strategies for reform. This multi-layered methodology ensures that our argument is historically grounded, empirically substantiated, and theoretically nuanced.
Section 3. Discussion
The debate over whether and how the mentalities described by Vitorino Magalhães Godinho persist in contemporary Brazil must address several theoretical and empirical dimensions. On one side, proponents of the continuity thesis argue that the structures and values embedded in eighteenth-century Portugal, such as aristocratic privilege and clerical dominance, were transposed to Brazil and explain much of its modern-day corruption, social inequality, and neglect of scientific progress. On the other side, critics caution against oversimplifying historical legacies and highlight the role of contemporary global and domestic factors.
Section 3.1. Engagement with Godinho’s Work and Historical Evidence
Godinho’s emphasis on the near-total domination of land by the Church and the nobility in eighteenth-century Portugal provides a tangible anchor for understanding the social and economic basis of aristocratic mentalities. By quoting directly from his work—“The large landed estates and the royal protection of the clergy and nobility crystallized a mentality that despised labor and productive initiative” (Godinho, 1982, p. 170)—we see that the historian explicitly linked property relations to cultural attitudes. In this environment, public offices were seen as paths to privilege. Transferring this model to colonial Brazil required only the replication of a similar logic: the Crown, and later the imperial and republican states, extended lucrative positions to those loyal to the regime rather than to those proving merit, diligence, or scientific insight.
Section 3.2. Institutional Transfer to Brazil
Raymundo Faoro (1975) and Gilberto Freyre (1933) reinforce the continuity thesis by describing how Portugal’s patrimonial structures shaped Brazil’s development. The Crown divided Brazil’s territory into captaincies and then structured governance around personal bonds rather than impersonal, rational-legal criteria. As a result, Brazilian elites inherited not just laws and institutions but also worldviews that minimized the importance of productive work and knowledge creation. Whereas the Protestant Reformation and the Enlightenment encouraged more meritocratic and scientific outlooks in Northern Europe, Brazil (and Portugal) remained tethered to a Catholic, aristocratic ethos that showed “endemic indifference to scientific discovery” (Freyre, 1933, p. 285).
Section 3.3. Contemporary Evidence and Quantitative Data
In contemporary Brazil, the skewed wealth distribution and the persistence of corruption scandals suggest that certain old regime mentalities remain influential. Current data indicate that the richest 1% holds nearly a quarter of the total national income (World Inequality Database, 2020), perpetuating a pattern of oligarchic control reminiscent of eighteenth-century structures. This inequality correlates with underinvestment in public education and research infrastructures, hampering the formation of robust scientific communities.
High-profile corruption cases, such as the mensalão scandal (2005) and Operation Car Wash (2014–ongoing), illustrate that holding public office often grants individuals significant leeway to circumvent the law. These patterns recall the notion that, historically, nobles and clerics enjoyed immunity from accountability. Contemporary Brazil may lack formal titles of nobility, but public officials, in practice, can sometimes enjoy protections and privileges that undermine equality before the law. Such conditions discourage a culture that invests in intellectual labor and scientific exploration, as resources and energy are diverted toward securing and exploiting positions of influence.
Section 3.4. Delaying Scientific Advancement
The central argument that the persistence of these mentalities has delayed Brazil’s scientific progress hinges on how cultural values, institutional frameworks, and resource allocations interact. A society that does not value empirical inquiry, rigorous scholarship, or innovative research is less likely to fund laboratories, support universities, or encourage independent scientific institutions. This lack of support manifests in Brazil’s relatively low number of patents, modest R&D investment, and limited scientific output relative to its population and economic potential.
As historian Fernand Braudel (1979) argues, long-term mentalities create frameworks that condition economic and cultural development. In Brazil, the conditioning effect of aristocratic and clerical mentalities means that the pursuit of scientific excellence often lacks deep societal prestige or stable institutional backing. Without a strong constituency demanding cutting-edge research or technological breakthroughs, political leaders have fewer incentives to champion these causes. The result is a country struggling to compete on the global stage of innovation, despite its size and potential.
Section 3.5. Critiques of Historical Continuity Theories
Skeptics argue that the emphasis on historical continuity is too deterministic. They point out that Brazil’s history since independence (1822) includes waves of immigration, industrialization, urbanization, and global integration that have altered its social and economic structures. Moreover, Brazil’s political transitions—from empire to republic, from dictatorship to democracy—opened new avenues for cultural change. Critics suggest that focusing on old aristocratic mentalities obscures the modern forces at work, such as neoliberal reforms, multinational corporate influence, or the digital revolution.
These critics also note that many former colonies with similar Iberian legacies have made strides in scientific and economic development. Chile, for instance, has invested significantly in education and research over recent decades, achieving higher rankings in certain scientific fields and improving educational outcomes. This suggests that historical mentalities, while impactful, do not render progress impossible.
Figure 1.
The image exemplifies the sophisticated visual language commonly used in Brazilian many luxury real estates marketing. A Vila Imperial („Imperial Village”) real estate company presents a property for sale at Haras Larissa, situated within Fazenda Santo Antonio. The composition deliberately evokes aristocratic associations through multiple elements: The background shows an elegant country estate with clean architectural lines, featuring a swimming pool and verdant landscaping that blends into natural surroundings. The terracotta roof tiles and covered veranda reflect traditional colonial-style Brazilian architecture associated with historic fazendas (estates). The branding elements are particularly telling: The use of a crown in the Vila Imperial logo, the decorative typography of „HARAS LARISSA,” and the ornamental flourishes framing the text all reference European nobility. The term „Haras” (horse farm) itself carries strong connotations of aristocratic leisure, while „Fazenda” connects to Brazil’s historical landed gentry.
Figure 1.
The image exemplifies the sophisticated visual language commonly used in Brazilian many luxury real estates marketing. A Vila Imperial („Imperial Village”) real estate company presents a property for sale at Haras Larissa, situated within Fazenda Santo Antonio. The composition deliberately evokes aristocratic associations through multiple elements: The background shows an elegant country estate with clean architectural lines, featuring a swimming pool and verdant landscaping that blends into natural surroundings. The terracotta roof tiles and covered veranda reflect traditional colonial-style Brazilian architecture associated with historic fazendas (estates). The branding elements are particularly telling: The use of a crown in the Vila Imperial logo, the decorative typography of „HARAS LARISSA,” and the ornamental flourishes framing the text all reference European nobility. The term „Haras” (horse farm) itself carries strong connotations of aristocratic leisure, while „Fazenda” connects to Brazil’s historical landed gentry.
Section 3.6. Clarifying Key Concepts: Mentalities and Patrimonialism
To address these critiques, we must carefully define key concepts. “Mentalities” refer to collective cultural dispositions—habits of thought and expectation—shaped by centuries of social practice and historical institutions. They are not immutable but are often resistant to rapid change. “Patrimonialism,” as defined by Max Weber and applied by Faoro, is a form of governance in which political authority treats the state as a personal possession. It contrasts with rational-legal authority, where offices and laws exist independent of the individuals who occupy them.
In Brazil, elements of patrimonialism persist in the sense that offices often serve personal networks rather than strictly impersonal rules. While modern constitutions and legal frameworks aim to enforce rational-legal authority, cultural and institutional residues still enable nepotism and favoritism. This environment discourages the rigorous, merit-based competition that fosters scientific advancement.
Section 3.7. Comparative Theoretical Perspectives
Comparisons with England or Northern Europe—contexts where industrialization, the Protestant ethic (Weber, 1905), and bourgeois revolutions reshaped mentalities—demonstrate that cultural transformations can accelerate when new economic bases and ideologies gain prominence. In contrast, Portugal and Brazil missed key historical junctures (such as a robust bourgeois revolution or early industrialization) that might have reoriented cultural values toward productivity, innovation, and critical inquiry.
However, the absence of these historical breaks does not mean Brazil must remain trapped. Theoretical frameworks like post-colonial studies and dependency theory highlight that global integration and cultural exchange can introduce new norms that challenge old mentalities. Brazil’s participation in global academic networks, research collaborations, and international exchanges can gradually shift values and priorities.
Section 3.8. Resistance, Counter-Trends, and Reforms
Encouragingly, Brazil is not static. Over the past decades, civic organizations, judicial activism, media investigations, and youth movements have questioned elite privilege and corruption. The country’s Supreme Court, public prosecutors, and investigative journalists have held powerful figures accountable, weakening the assumption that public office guarantees impunity. Grassroots educational initiatives and science communication projects strive to elevate the prestige of researchers and the importance of evidence-based policy.
Universities and research institutes, such as the University of São Paulo or the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), have demonstrated global competitiveness in certain fields. EMBRAPA’s success in transforming Brazil into a global agribusiness powerhouse shows that, given institutional support and a meritocratic ethos, scientific progress is possible even in a challenging environment. These successes form pockets of resistance against the old mentalities, proving that cultural dispositions can be contested and reconfigured.
In addition, the burgeoning tech sector in cities like São Paulo and Florianópolis—sometimes dubbed “Brazil’s Silicon Valley”—shows a younger generation challenging old hierarchies. Startups and tech entrepreneurs value innovation, skill, and problem-solving capacities, placing less emphasis on lineage or connections. As these sectors grow, they cultivate a new cultural appreciation for merit and creativity, gradually counteracting aristocratic mentalities.
Section 3.9. Improving the Conditions for Scientific Progress
To foster scientific advancement, policies must directly confront the remnants of historical mentalities. Strengthening the autonomy of universities and research institutions, ensuring stable funding for R&D, and insulating scientific priorities from political patronage would help. Training scientists in ethics and public communication, awarding research excellence, and celebrating scientific achievements in the media can shift public perceptions.
On an international level, partnerships with top research institutions, joint ventures in clean energy or biomedical research, and participation in global scientific consortia can expose Brazilian scholars and policymakers to best practices and success stories. Such exposure gradually erodes skepticism toward empirical inquiry.
Section 3.10. Long-Term Cultural Shifts
Cultural shifts require generational change. If younger Brazilians learn from an early age that scientific research leads to societal benefits—new medicines, sustainable agriculture, technological breakthroughs—they may challenge the old assumption that prestige comes from inheriting land, titles, or offices. Educational reforms that emphasize critical thinking, problem-solving, and the scientific method can undermine mentalities that value passive acceptance of authority.
Moreover, inclusive institutions that offer research opportunities to marginalized communities—Afro-Brazilians, indigenous peoples, women, and LGBTQ+ researchers—diversify the scientific community. This inclusivity can break the link between privilege and intellectual labor, reinforcing the idea that innovation emerges from talent and collaboration rather than birthright or nepotism.
Section 3.11. Potential Futures
While Godinho’s analysis illuminates how past mentalities continue to shape Brazil’s challenges, it also points to strategies for transformation. The lessons of other societies—whether England’s industrial evolution or Portugal’s adaptation to European Union norms—show that cultural frameworks can evolve. Portugal itself, pressured by EU standards, enhanced meritocratic recruitment in the civil service, reduced corruption, and embraced rational-legal principles more rigorously. Although Brazil cannot rely on the same external pressures, it can learn from Portugal’s experience that joining global regimes of transparency, accountability, and scientific cooperation can encourage change.
Critics who argue that the past is distant and irrelevant may underestimate the persistence of cultural habits. Yet, acknowledging that mentalities can shift reminds us that historical legacies are not destinies. The goal is not to condemn Brazil to repeat patterns but to reveal their origins, understand their endurance, and chart pathways to overcome them.
Section 3.12. Summary
The discussion highlights a spectrum of arguments. While the legacy of eighteenth-century aristocratic and clerical mentalities, as analyzed by Godinho and applied by Faoro and Freyre, clearly lingers in Brazil’s political culture and institutions, these mentalities are neither monolithic nor static. Counterforces—democratic activists, investigative media, forward-looking businesses, and some enlightened public institutions—offer hope. The path to overcoming these mentalities and fostering an environment that prizes scientific excellence involves a combination of institutional reforms, cultural investments, and global engagements. Understanding the weight of history empowers Brazilians to challenge it, forging a future in which neither privilege nor archaic mentalities block the ascent of research, knowledge, and innovation.
Section 4. Conclusion
Vitorino Magalhães Godinho’s historical analysis of eighteenth-century Portugal exposes an aristocratic-clerical structure that concentrated land and wealth, discouraged productive labor, and celebrated privilege over merit. Transplanted to Brazil, these mentalities shaped a legacy of patrimonial governance, corruption, and undervaluation of scientific enterprise. Such historical baggage helps explain why Brazil, despite its size, remains underrepresented in global scientific achievements and still awaits its first Nobel Prize in the sciences.
Yet, this legacy is not immutable. Recognizing how old mentalities inhibit scientific progress sets the stage for targeted reforms. By cultivating merit-based institutions, investing in research and education, and encouraging a public culture that esteems empirical inquiry, Brazil can gradually erode the hold of archaic mentalities. Civil society pressures, judicial independence, media scrutiny, educational reforms, and international collaborations provide blueprints for transforming inherited structures into modern frameworks conducive to scientific advancement.
In sum, Godinho’s insights reveal the deep historical roots of contemporary challenges, but they also highlight paths for renewal. By confronting these legacies and fostering an environment that respects work, talent, and integrity, Brazil may one day develop the conditions necessary to reach the highest levels of scientific accomplishment, reshaping its intellectual landscape and finally earning a place among the world’s great innovators.
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