Espaço de experiência e horizonte de expectativa na atuação diplomática de Oswaldo Aranha (1934-1937)

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the diplomatic performance of Oswaldo Aranha as the Brazilian ambassador in Washington, between 1934 and 1937. Thereunto, were used the metahistorical categories developed by Reinhart Koselleck (2006): space of experience and horizon of expectation. It is proposed the desegregation of the horizon of expectation concept in two: prognostic horizon of expectation, which relates to the predictions; and propositive horizon of expectation, which relates to the planning formulated from the predicted processes’ effects. The research question is: how did the junction between the prognostic horizon of experience and the propositive horizon of experience influence the diplomatic performance of Oswaldo Aranha as the Brazilian ambassador to the United States? To answer this, the following objectives were elaborated: 1) to comprehend the prognostic horizon of expectation of Oswaldo Aranha about the course of international economy and politics; 2) to comprehend which was the aspects present in the ambassador’s propositive horizon of expectation; 3) to map the personal and institutional spaces os experience that based those horizons of expectation; and 4) to analyze how the junction between those variables influenced the effective diplomatic performance of Oswaldo Aranha. The study revolves around two methodological blocs. The first one uses literature review, redeeming works which reading is fundamental to the comprehension of the period and processes analyzed. The second one communicates directly with the documental primary sources, gathered, ordered, sorted and operationalized in a way that its content is used in the (re)interpretation of the analyzed processes. The first development chapter relates to the prognostic horizon of expectation of Oswaldo Aranha about the international economy and politics. In it, are pointed four macroprocesses predicted by the ambassador: 1) the war horizon; 2) the international economy horizon; 3) the Good Neighbor horizon; and 4) the great power horizon. The second chapter defines the concept of the propositive horizon of expectation and tries to identify which elements conformed Oswaldo Aranha’s one. It is argued that the prognostic horizon of expectation of the ambassador conditioned the formation of a propositive horizon of expectation based on the assumption that Brasil should strengthen its relations with the United States. The third chapter, in its turn, aims to analyze how the perspectives present in the prognostic and propositive horizons of expectations of Oswaldo Aranha influenced his effective diplomatic performance. It is concluded that the diplomatic performance of Oswaldo Aranha was strongly permeated by the perspectives present in his prognostic and propositive horizons of expectation. It can be explained, in part, by the high autonomy level that the ambassador had on its actions, many times using his direct contact with Vargas to go against positions and perspectives of Itamaraty.