Abstract

FERREIRA, André Soares. Civilization and frontier habitus in the work of José de Melo e Silva. Educ. Puc. [online]. 2019, vol.24, n.3, pp.351-365. ISSN 2318-0870.  https://doi.org/10.24220/2318-0870v24n3a4605.

In this article, the authors propose to discuss the constituent aspects of the frontier habitus from José de Meloe Silva’s “Guaraní Frontiers” and “West Canaan” books. These books are part of the historiographical corpusof the state of Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil) and reveal elements that are part of the civilizing process of theBrazil-Paraguay border. The Theory of Civilizing Processes, developed by the German sociologist Norbert Elias,is used as a theoretical contribution. Habitus, understood as second nature, develops in the historical-socialprocess that is constituted in the development of the different societies marked by interdependent figurations. Itis understood that the frontier habitus criticized by Melo e Silva in the 1930s reveals aspects of the constitutionand civilizing processes of the Brazil-Paraguay border. His observations reveal the interdependencies of socialprocesses and the historical and social character of the constitution of the regional identity. It is concludedthat the frontier civilizing process is underway and the interdependent relations between Brazilians andParaguayans, both Guarani descendants, produced a distinct and characteristic habitus of the region.

Keywords : Brazil-Paraguay; Education; Frontier; Historiography; Civilizing Process.

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