Which America? Brazilian intellectual formulations about Latin America at the turn of the century and their impacts on the constructions of national identity

At the turn of the 20th century, with the coming of a new political regime in the country, Brazilians intellectuals actively engaged in a creative reflection about the historical relation of their nation with its surrounding Spanish-speaking neighbors. And although no unified view was to emerge, as a whole these works and ensuing debates offered an opportunity for these publicly engaged writers to reinsert, under a new yet still largely critical light, the regional context into much needed discussions on national identity and associated national projects. How this new dynamic operated and how they are situated within the long-term of Brazilian history are the focus of this study.