History and Culture of Public Agents Corruption in Brazil: A Transversal Reading of the works of Sérgio Buarque de Holanda, Raymundo Faoro and Darcy Ribeiro

Abstract

Research Purpose: The objective of this essay is to carry out a transversal reading of the works “Raízes do Brasil” (1995) by Sergio Buarque, “Os donos do Poder” (2001) by Raymundo Faoro and “O povo Brasileiro” by Darcy Ribeiro (1995), analyzing theorical aspects that touch on the historical construction of the corruption of public agents in Brazil and its cultural implications.

Results: Holanda and Faoro present patrimonialism as a reason for corruption in Brazil, according to Weberian theory. In another step, Darcy Ribeiro presents, as a foundation for these practices, the relationship between the elites that, together, have always worked to maintain their privileges, expiating the Brazilian people.

Originality: We introduce the reader to historical and cultural elements regarding the political formation of the country and its intrinsic relationship with corruption, challenging the Weberian tradition (patrimonialism) and demonstrating the contradictions between the versions of history originally proposed by Sérgio Buarque de Holanda and Raymundo Faoro and the dissident narrative constructed by Darcy Ribeiro

Theoretical Contributions: We build a critical narrative of the Weberian tradition in national studies on corruption. The contributions proposed in this article have profound implications in relation to the culture rooted in the organizational spaces of Public Administration. The ways of managing public affairs in the country, historically, are based on three main axes that can be expanded in future research: a) inheritance of Portuguese modes of government, b) domination of the elites over the people and c) alienation of the people in relation to public affairs